Did Your Child Suffer a Birth Injury?

Birth injuries are devastating injuries that often lead to permanent health concerns. While some birth injuries are circumstantial, many others could have been prevented. Some birth injuries are apparent at birth, but others aren’t detected until the child begins to miss developmental milestones. 

When a newborn suffers a birth injury, it is one of the most painful classifications of personal injury claims. Our children are so vulnerable, and we do everything we can to help keep them safe. When a child is injured as a result of a medical professional’s negligence, it is devastating. If your child suffers a birth injury, you need a Las Vegas medical malpractice lawyer on your side.

Many Birth Injuries Are Preventable

Some birth injuries are the result of health complications that leave the infant vulnerable to birth injuries to begin with, but some birth injuries are entirely preventable and are caused by the negligence of medical professionals. Some birth injuries are apparent at birth, but others don’t reveal themselves until later in childhood, which can make proving that a birth injury was caused by medical malpractice that much more complicated. Birth injuries refer to any kind of injury that happens during labor and delivery, and they are often caused by trauma or oxygen deprivation. These injuries can range from very mild to extremely serious, and they can lead to permanent disabilities.

Early Signs of Birth Injuries

Some early warning signs of birth injuries include:

• Your baby’s skin is very pale (or even blue).
• Your baby breathes slowly, has a sluggish heart rate, or requires resuscitation.
• Your baby isn’t interested in feeding or has difficulty doing so.
• Your baby is lethargic or sluggish.
• Your baby appears overly stiff (hypertonic) or overly floppy (hypotonic).
• Your baby has a low APGAR score, which is a simple test that rates overall health and vital signs, and that is administered in the hospital.
• Your baby exhibits odd movements in his or her face, arms, or legs.
• Your baby fails to exhibit typical neonatal reflexes, such as responding to loud noises and grasping onto objects.

For birth injuries that aren’t identified until your child is older, the signs tend to relate to delayed developmental milestones, including:

• Language and/or speech delays
• Learning disabilities
• Motor impairments
• Hearing and/or vision impairments
• Sensory processing disorders
• Cerebral Palsy (CP)
• Seizure disorders

If any of these symptoms apply to your child, discuss your concerns with a skilled medical malpractice lawyer.

Consult with an Experienced Las Vegas Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If you believe your child suffered a birth injury that was preventable and as a result of negligence on the part of a medical professional(s), the dedicated Las Vegas medical malpractice lawyers at Breeden Malpractice & Injury Law have the experience, compassion, and commitment to help. Obtaining the compensation to which your child is entitled is the surest path toward his or her best possible future, so please don’t hesitate to contact us online or call us at (702) 819-7770 to schedule a free consultation today.