{"id":46833,"date":"2018-04-30T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-04-30T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/skolnicklaw.com\/blog\/2018\/04\/misfortune-or-mistake-recognizing-a-birth-injury\/"},"modified":"2025-01-26T06:17:21","modified_gmt":"2025-01-26T11:17:21","slug":"misfortune-or-mistake-recognizing-a-birth-injury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/skolnicklaw.com\/misfortune-or-mistake-recognizing-a-birth-injury\/","title":{"rendered":"Misfortune or mistake? Recognizing a birth injury"},"content":{"rendered":"

Childbirth is an admittedly difficult process for most women \u2014 and it\u2019s easy for a tiny baby to end up injured. How do you tell the difference between simple bruises from the birth and a serious injury?<\/p>\n

Here are some of the most common symptoms an infant with birth injuries can have:<\/p>\n

Weakness in one or more limbs or facial paralysis<\/strong><\/p>\n

Weakness and limpness in the limbs are very worrisome. In the arms, they can be symptoms of Erb\u2019s palsy. If the baby is having a hard time moving his or her legs, it could be a sign of spinal cord damage. Either could be signs of cerebral palsy. Facial paralysis can be the result of nerve damages after the negligent use of forceps.<\/p>\n

Problems feeding<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some newborns have trouble latching on when a mother\u2019s nursing, but a serious problem swallowing or sucking can be signs of cerebral palsy or another brain injury.<\/p>\n

Seizures<\/strong><\/p>\n

Seizures should be an immediate cause for concern and they indicate a need for a brain scan. Bleeding in the brain, which can result from the use of forceps, can be the direct cause of seizures.<\/p>\n

Unusual crying<\/strong><\/p>\n

All babies cry, and it\u2019s normal. But an unusually high-pitched cry or wail that doesn\u2019t stop is the sign of trouble. If the baby keeps arching his or her back, that\u2019s often a sign of real pain and could indicate a birth injury.<\/p>\n

As your baby ages, be on the lookout for additional signs of birth trauma. By the time your baby is six months old, he or she should:<\/p>\n