Signs and Symptoms of Birth Injuries and What Parents Can Watch For
Recognizing the early warning signs of a birth injury can be difficult, as some symptoms appear immediately while others emerge later as your child grows. Watching your baby closely for signs of an injury can help you seek early medical intervention and legal support.
Immediate Birth Injury SignsDepending on the situation, some immediate signs that your baby may have suffered a birth injury include: |
Delayed Birth Injury SymptomsIn some cases, a birth injury is not apparent right away, and symptoms can take months or even years to show up. Delayed symptoms may include: |
|---|---|
| Respiratory distress or abnormal breathing patterns | Ataxia or balance and coordination issues |
| Poor color that may indicate low blood oxygen | Cognitive delays, including memory issues |
| Lack of movement in the limbs or other parts of the body | Challenges with eating or drinking |
| Trauma marks, including red, swelling, or bruising | Delayed speech or language development |
| Facial drooping or paralysis | Difficulty sitting, standing, crawling, or walking without support |
| Excessively floppy or rigid muscles | Fine motor skill challenges, including hand-eye and hand-mouth coordination |
| Jerking movements or reflex issues | Hearing, vision, or speech impairments |
| Trouble sucking or swallowing during feeding | Increased or decreased muscle tone (hypertonia or hypotonia) |
| Extreme lethargy or sluggish movements and reactions | Involuntary movements, tremors, or muscle spasms (spasticity) |
| Seizures or neurological conditions, such as epilepsy |
Common Types of Birth Injuries
While every delivery is unique, certain medical complications during birth can lead to specific, recognizable conditions. Here are common types of birth injuries:
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy can happen when a lack of oxygen damages the developing brain during birth. This condition can permanently affect a child’s muscle control, coordination, and lifelong mobility.
Erb's Palsy
Erb’s palsy is a brachial plexus injury that occurs when the nerves in the baby’s shoulder are stretched or torn during a difficult delivery. This can cause temporary weakness or permanent paralysis in the affected arm.
Facial Nerve Palsy
Pressure on the baby’s face during labor or from forceps during delivery can damage facial nerves, causing temporary or permanent loss of muscle movement on one side of the face.
Caput Succedaneum
Caput succedaneum is a swelling of the scalp that happens from pressure against the cervix during prolonged labor. While the initial appearance of this condition can be alarming to new parents, it’s usually considered harmless and heals on its own within days.
Cephalohematoma
Often caused by delivery tools, a collection of blood can pool under the baby’s scalp bones. Known as a cephalohematoma, it can increase the risk of jaundice and may take weeks or months to disappear.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Excessive pulling or twisting of the baby’s neck during a difficult delivery can tear the spinal cord, resulting in a severe medical emergency and permanent paralysis.
Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is brain damage caused by a dangerous shortage of oxygen and blood flow during birth. This can lead to severe, lifelong developmental delays or physical disabilities.
Shoulder Dystocia Injuries
When the baby’s shoulders get physically trapped behind the mother’s pelvic bone during delivery, it can result in shoulder dystocia. Improper handling of this birth injury may cause severe nerve damage or fractures.
Clavicle or Femur Fractures
The baby’s collarbone or thigh bone can break under intense pressure or pulling during delivery. While painful, these bone fractures typically heal with proper treatment and care.
Intracranial Hemorrhage
An intracranial hemorrhage is bleeding inside or around the brain caused by birth trauma or sudden oxygen loss. In some cases, pressure from the bleeding can lead to seizures and permanent brain damage.
Steps To Take if You Suspect Your Child Has a Birth Injury
If you suspect your baby was injured during labor or delivery, there are things you can do to protect your child’s health and your family’s legal rights. Here are some steps to keep in mind:
- Seek an immediate medical evaluation: Act quickly to have a medical professional evaluate symptoms for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
- Document everything: Write down specific timelines, physical symptoms, and behavioral changes, and note all medical staff present during your delivery.
- Request medical records: Obtain comprehensive medical records for both the mother and infant. A lawyer can help with this step.
- Consult a birth injury attorney: Act promptly to protect your legal rights before strict deadlines pass and critical evidence disappears.
During a free consultation with The Sanders Law Firm, our lawyers and in-house medical consultants can review your case, guide you through what to expect, and explain how we might help.
Long-Term Effects and Outcomes of Birth Injuries
The impact of a birth injury can range from minor, temporary issues to profound, lifelong conditions. Outcomes depend heavily on the injury’s location, the severity of oxygen deprivation or physical trauma, and how quickly medical staff intervenes.
These long-term effects may not apply in every situation, but they are possible outcomes for different types of birth injuries:
Mild Birth Injuries
Birth injuries may be considered mild when they are generally temporary or can resolve with minimal intervention, including minor bruising, swelling, and superficial lacerations from forceps or vacuum extractors.
Some conditions may take weeks or months to heal and require physical therapy and targeted treatments. Examples include mild brachial plexus stretching and minor clavicle fractures.
Moderate Birth Injuries
Moderate birth injuries present a mix of temporary challenges and long-term impacts. For example, moderate nerve damage may require physical therapy to improve mobility or surgical intervention to restore full limb function.
Some forms of cerebral palsy or treatable seizure disorders might become apparent after birth, causing developmental delays. With early intervention therapies, including speech, occupational, and physical therapy, many children successfully adapt, meet major developmental milestones, and learn to live highly independent, fulfilling lives.
Severe Birth Injuries
Severe birth injuries typically result in permanent, lifelong conditions requiring comprehensive, continuous medical support. Significant oxygen deprivation can cause severe cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, or permanent vision and hearing loss. Families may face ongoing challenges, such as specialized schooling, mobility equipment, and around-the-clock nursing care.
While these diagnoses can feel overwhelming, advanced treatments, assistive technologies, and dedicated support groups can significantly improve your child’s quality of life. Additionally, you can work with a legal advocate to investigate medical errors that potentially caused the birth injury and pursue financial compensation that can help cover the cost of care.
Contact The Sanders Law Firm: We’re Here to Help
At The Sanders Law Firm, our attorneys understand the overwhelming uncertainty and fear parents often face after a birth injury. If your child was harmed during labor or delivery, you don’t have to navigate this alone. Our team is here to stand by your side as a protective advocate, fighting for the answers and justice your family deserves.
Let us help you find the best path forward. Call (833) SANDERS or contact us online to speak with a team member who is ready to help. There is no upfront cost to hire our team, and no fees unless we secure compensation for your claim.
Frequently Asked Questions About Birth Injuries
My Child Shows Some of These Symptoms, but My Doctor Says They’re Normal. What Should I Do?
If you’re concerned about your child’s health, seek a second opinion from a qualified medical professional. Symptoms can be subtle, and an early diagnosis is important for treatment. If symptoms persist or worsen, consider working with a legal advocate to push for further evaluation.
Not All Birth Injuries Are Caused by Medical Negligence, Right?
Yes, many birth injuries result from unavoidable complications despite proper medical care. The key is whether the provider met the standard of care. An attorney can help determine whether negligence played a role in your child’s injury and if you qualify to bring a birth injury lawsuit.
What Exactly Is “Medical Malpractice” in a Birth Injury Case?
Medical malpractice occurs when a medical practitioner fails to meet the “standard of care,” and it results in harm to the patient. The standard of care is the care that a similarly trained, reasonable healthcare professional would have provided under the same circumstances. If a provider deviates from this standard and your child is injured as a result, it may be considered malpractice.
How Long Do I Have To File a Birth Injury Lawsuit in New York?
In New York, most medical malpractice lawsuits must be filed within two years and six months of the alleged malpractice or the end of continuous treatment for the same condition. When the injured patient is a child, New York’s infancy toll may extend the child’s deadline, but in medical malpractice cases that extension generally cannot go beyond 10 years from when the claim accrued. Because parent claims, public hospital claims, and continuous-treatment issues can affect the deadline, families should speak with a New York birth injury attorney as soon as possible.