Albuquerque Birth Injury Lawyers

A birth injury is an injury to the baby or the mother that occurs during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. Birth injuries can also happen immediately after a baby is born. Unlike birth defects, which are often the result of genetic and/or environmental factors, birth injuries are caused by medical malpractice and negligence. 

Some examples of relatively common birth injuries include: 

• Shoulder Dystocia: Shoulder dystocia occurs when the baby’s shoulder(s) become lodged in the mother’s pelvis during delivery. Although most babies with shoulder dystocia are born safely, some experience serious injuries. Shoulder dystocia can lead to fractured arms or collarbones if the doctor attempts to forcefully remove the baby from the birth canal. It can also cause damage to the brachial plexus nerves, which may result in Erb’s palsy, Klumpke’s palsy, and partial or total paralysis of the affected arm. If the baby is not delivered quickly, he or she can suffer a loss of oxygen, which may lead to brain damage or death. In some cases, this condition can also cause birth injuries to the mother, such as postpartum hemorrhaging, perineum tearing, or uterine rupture. 
• Cerebral Palsy: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a motor disability affecting balance, movement, and posture. In children, it is commonly caused by birth injuries. Specifically, when an infant loses oxygen, either before or during birth, it can cause brain damage that may result in CP. Untreated maternal infections or conditions, prolonged labor, an umbilical cord that is wrapped around the baby’s neck, and shoulder dystocia are some of the risk factors for oxygen deprivation and CP. In some cases, CP is caused by abnormal development of the brain while the baby is in the womb. 
• Holoprosencephaly: Holoprosencephaly results in malformations of the face. The full extent of causes of holoprosencephaly is not known, but there is evidence of a higher incidence rate (particularly among baby girls) when the mother suffered a transplacental infection that was undiagnosed and left untreated. 
• Cephalohematoma: Cephalohematoma is bleeding that takes place between the infant’s skull and the thin membrane that covers the bone (periosteum). It is typically caused by instruments used to extract the baby during an obstructed delivery or when the baby is too large for the birth canal. The condition often results in jaundice, anemia, and hypotension.
• Cesarean Section Injuries: When a baby cannot be delivered vaginally, medical providers must perform cesarean sections, or C-sections. This is a surgical procedure that requires careful skill and precision to avoid injury to the baby or the mother. Though rare, C-section injuries can and do happen. Often, these are the result of surgical errors, such as failure to monitor the mother or the baby, improper incisions, and damage to internal organs during surgery. 
• Brain Damage: Infant brain damage is often caused by loss of oxygen and/or blood flow to the brain. This includes asphyxia, hypoxia, and anoxia—all serious conditions that can result in significant and permanent brain damage or death. Common causes of brain damage in newborns include prolonged labor, shoulder dystocia, failure to order a timely C-section, and failure to properly monitor the baby for signs of fetal distress. 

These are just some of the many types of birth injuries to babies that can result when a licensed medical professional is negligent. Whether your baby’s injury was the result of improper prenatal diagnosis and treatment, an error in the delivery room, or an undiagnosed medical condition during neonatal care, your physician or healthcare facility may be liable for compensating your family for damages.