Is a Birth Injury Permanent?

Birth injuries can change the course of a baby’s life before it has even truly begun. While some birth injuries may resolve on their own in days to weeks, others are more permanent.

Below, our Philadelphia personal injury attorneys discuss which birth injuries are more permanent than others.

Birth Injuries Without a Cure

A birth injury involves any harm to a mother or baby during the labor and delivery process. There are two main causes of birth injuries: oxygen deprivation and physical damage.

The severity of the birth injury will often vary depending on the amount of oxygen deprivation the child experienced, or the level of physical damage that occurred during the birthing process.

If the injuries to the child are severe, it is more likely that he or she will sustain a permanent birth injury. Examples of birth injuries that are often permanent include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Cerebral palsy (CP)
• Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
• Some forms of Erb’s palsy

Of the aforementioned birth injuries, CP and HIE are the most serious since they involve the brain and cause neurological damage to the child.

CP is a group of disorders that affects coordination and movement. Often, children with CP need a walker or wheelchair to move around. While therapies and medications may help improve symptoms, CP is permanent and there is no cure.

Depending on the amount of time the child experienced hypoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain) or anoxia (no oxygen to the brain) during the birthing process, their HIE may be more severe.

The consequences of severe cases of HIE include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Mental retardation
• Seizures
• Inability to sit unassisted
• Delays in reaching milestones
• Inability to swallow or eat
• Inability to control bowel movements
• Inability to crawl or walk
• Coma
• Death

Suspect a Birth Injury? We’re Here to Help

At The Beasley Firm, LLC, we understand the devastating consequences that a birth injury can have on victims and their families. That’s why we’re committed to protecting these clients’ rights against the interests of large hospitals and insurance companies.

Contact The Beasley Firm, LLC to schedule a free consultation with our team today.