No one wants their newborn baby to be injured. Unfortunately, birth injuries are all too common. A birth injury is defined as a physical injury sustained by the baby during the process of childbirth. One commonly occurring form of birth injury is broken bones or fractures. While not as long-lasting or life-threatening as other birth traumas such as brain injuries or brachial palsy, a broken or fractured bone resulting from childbirth is a serious issue that requires medical—and, possibly, legal—attention.
Broken bones or fractures are one of the most commonly occurring birth injuries. Here’s what you need to know.
Symptoms
It may not always be obvious if your child sustained a bone fracture, or even a broken bone, during childbirth. Here are a few things to look out for.
- Crying when touched. As well all know, newborns frequently cry. While this is not in and of itself something to be concerned about, if your child cries when a particular area is touched or moved, that could be a sign of a broken bone or fracture.
- Lack of movement. If your child appears not to be moving a particular part of their body, such as an arm or leg, this could be indicative of a broken bone or fracture. This should only be a concern if the child’s movement appears to be disproportionate, such as if they frequently move their right arm, but not their left.
- Swelling or redness. Bone breaks and fractures in newborns may manifest visually. You should be on the lookout for a lump, which typically forms within a few weeks of childbirth if the child has a broken bone. In the case of a fracture, this could just take the form of swelling, redness, or bruising.
Is someone at fault?
In the majority of cases, a broken or fractured bone resulting from childbirth could have been avoided. It is likely that the medical professional who you trusted to carry out the birth of your child safety is at fault. The most common instance of a broken or fractured bone is the infant’s clavicle or collarbone during breech delivery. Often, inexperienced or otherwise negligent medical staff will use too much force to assist with this process. Additionally, a diligent medical professional should be able to detect issues that might arise during childbirth ahead of time, and plan for a cesarean section.
We should have the utmost confidence in medical professionals to deliver our babies safely. If things have gone wrong, please choose us as your medical malpractice lawyer.
Contact The Snyder Law Group Today
The Snyder Law Group, LLC, proudly represents clients throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C. Our experienced Baltimore attorneys understand the frustration that comes with an insurance company, medical professional, or other party that refuses to accept liability for negligent or reckless behavior. You can take heart in knowing there are talented and experienced lawyers ready to work for you. We are experienced in handling personal injury claims of medical malpractice or injury resulting from serious car and truck accidents, and have secured hundreds of millions in verdicts settlements*. Please visit our website, www.410thefirm.com, for more information and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.