Childbirth is supposed to be a delightful and memorable occasion in a parent’s life. However, childbirths are sometimes marked by injuries during birth that impact the child’s life and the entire family’s future. A birth injury can be described as the damage caused to an infant before, during or after delivery.
Unfortunately, birth injuries, sometimes known as birth traumas, can result in paralysis.
What is birth paralysis?
Birth paralysis occurs when a newborn baby loses control or strength in muscles in specific parts of its body. Depending on the cause and degree of severity, birth paralysis can be permanent or temporary.
Untreated infections
When a pregnant woman is infected and fails to get proper treatment, the bacteria or virus can spread to the fetus during delivery. At this time, the pathogens might attack the baby’s nervous system resulting in paralysis.
Brain injuries
Sometimes, a newborn might suffer trauma to the brain or lack enough oxygen to the brain and end up temporarily or permanently paralyzed. This issue can result from medical malpractice like improper use of vacuum extractors and forceps. In other cases, brain injury can happen when the umbilical cord is wrapped around the newborn’s neck or when a doctor uses too much force on an infant resulting in brain injuries.
Spinal injuries
Spinal injuries are a common cause of infant paralysis. Sometimes, a doctor might use excessive force during delivery when extracting the baby from the birth canal. This can then lead to partial or complete paralysis, depending on the location and severity of the injury.
Paralysis is a shocking diagnosis. Unfortunately, many complications before, during and after birth can cause infant paralysis. This diagnosis can be challenging, mainly because your baby might need medication, therapy and numerous doctor appointments for the rest of their lives. Therefore, you should get legal guidance to understand your options when seeking financial compensation.