D'Amore Personal Injury Law, LLC

Everything You & Your Family Need To Know About Your Birth Injury Case

Birth Injury & Cerebral Palsy

INTRODUCTION

Experienced Maryland Birth Injury Attorneys

Injuries occurring during birth can be devastating.  While we desire our physician to exercise the appropriate level of care when providing medical services, doctors sometimes fall below that standard, with catastrophic results.

Where do you turn for help in the event that a medical mistake by a doctor or hospital caused serious injury to your child? How do you even know whether your child’s injury was due to medical negligence or some other cause?

You need to understand your options when faced with a newborn with serious injuries, who may be facing a lifetime of medical care and necessary services. The best way to understand what to do is to consult with a knowledgeable, qualified birth injury attorney.

Our attorneys at D’Amore Personal Injury Law are experts in handling cerebral palsy and other birth injury cases, and we can advise you on the legal options that are available to you.  Further, we can connect you with the kinds of services and programs that can help you and your child moving forward. At D’Amore Personal Injury Law, we care deeply about getting the help you need for your child.

How a Birth Injury Attorney Helps

An experienced birth injury attorney is essential in determining whether you have a viable birth injury malpractice claim. 

A BIRTH INJURY LAWYER CAN HELP YOU IN FOUR IMPORTANT WAYS:

Legal Advice.  Your birth injury attorney understands the nuances of birth injury malpractice matters.  With that background, your lawyer can discuss with you the strength of your case based on the facts, the likelihood of success, and alternatives prior to filing a lawsuit.

Aggressive Investigation.  A birth injury attorney worth his or her salt will be a diligent, meticulous investigator. Your attorney will also have access to a network of professionals who can ensure that all of the relevant facts and evidence in your case are unearthed and evaluated accordingly. Moreover, a good birth injury attorney will have a number of medical experts on hand to assist in analyzing the facts of your case.

Expert Trial and Negotiation Skills.  Competence in the courtroom is key with regard to birth injury cases.  Moreover, an ability to negotiate from a position of strength is a trait that separates the great from the good when it comes to resolving birth injury matters.

Assistance with Other Services.  An attorney with expertise in birth injury cases will be able to put you in touch with professionals who can help you better understand the condition your child is facing. He or she can also help you get those services your child needs.

The legal professionals at D’Amore Personal Injury Law take those four responsibilities very seriously.  We are proud to say that we have helped countless clients deal with tragic birth injury issues.

With decades of experience handling birth injury cases, we have the know-how, drive, and compassion to fight hard for every one of our clients, and make sure our clients have access to the services and programs they need.

 

FIRST STEPS

About Birth Injury in Maryland

As an expectant parent, you prepared for the birth of your new baby with anticipation, hope, and joy. For nine months, as you carried and bonded with your unborn child, you had faith in the experience, expertise, and skills of your doctors and healthcare professionals who guided you and monitored your health along the way.Unfortunately, doctors and healthcare professionals are not always immune to making human errors. When mistakes happen that result in an unexpected birth injury to your child, whether negligent or accidental, it is important to know what options are available to you.

What Is A Birth Injury?​

The term “birth injury” is most often used to describe birth outcomes that should not have occurred if the mother and baby had received proper medical care. It is typically a preventable injury that your child suffers during labor and delivery.

 
What Causes Birth Injury?

There are two common types of avoidable birth injury: Physical Trauma and Hypoxic/Anoxic Brain Damage.

 
PHYSICAL TRAUMA

A common birth injury resulting from physical trauma is Erb’s palsy. Erb’s palsy is caused by nerve damage to the baby’s neck and arm during a difficult delivery. It usually happens when the doctor and/or nurses improperly respond to a situation where the baby’s shoulder is stuck while traveling through the birth canal. This is also called shoulder dystocia. Infants with Erb’s palsy usually have a weak or useless arm that is immediately noticeable after birth.

Another physical trauma that may cause brain injury is the improper use of instruments such as a vacuum extractor or forceps when applied to the baby’s head.

 
HYPOXIC / ANOXIC BRAIN DAMAGE

Hypoxic/Anoxic brain injuries occur in a number of different ways, but the basic cause of injury is a lack of oxygen to the baby’s brain. Without enough oxygen, the baby’s brain cells die. It takes time for hypoxic/anoxic brain injuries to be diagnosed because the changes that occur to the brain are not immediately visible. Typically, after several sonograms, CT scans, and MRI’s your doctor will diagnose your child as suffering from cerebral palsy. As your child ages, you will notice your baby failing to reach and/or properly advance through the developmental milestones such as rolling over, sitting up, crawling, walking, self-feeding, and talking.

 
 
 
 
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 Other loss of oxygen situations where babies suffer an interruption of the blood supply to their brain, can be caused by an untreated infection, umbilical cord compression, placental abruption, or uterine rupture.

Another physical trauma that may cause brain injury is the improper use of instruments such as a vacuum extractor or forceps when applied to the baby’s head.

 
Important First Steps After a Birth Injury

Most birth injury cases start with a difficult delivery. You may notice labor took longer than expected. Sometimes there is a lot of bleeding before the baby is born. The mom pushes and pushes during delivery but the baby seems stuck. Often, after hours of labor, mom is rushed back to the operating room and the baby is delivered by cesarean section.

After your baby is born, if any medical problems are suspected, he or she will be taken to the neonatal intensive care unit (the “NIC-U”). Oftentimes, the medical staff will tell you it is too early for them to determine what is wrong, or what is going to happen. If a brain injury is suspected, your baby may be put into something called a “cooling protocol” – a treatment designed to lower the baby’s body temperature in an effort to decrease the damage to the baby’s brain and nerve cells.

 
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO NOW

 

  1. Learn all you can about your child’s diagnosis
  2. Follow the advice of your child’s pediatrician and other medical providers
  3. Document everything
  4. Take photographs
  5. Talk to an experienced birth injury attorney

TYPES OF BIRTH INJURIES

Types of Birth Injuries
Brain-Related Injuries

The leading brain-related birth injury is Cerebral Palsy (CP). Cerebral is the medical term usually used to describe the brain. Palsy is the medical term used to describe a type of paralysis. In children with CP, parts of the brain that control muscle movement have been damaged by lack of oxygen.

Therefore, the brain can not send and receive the necessary signals for normal muscle movement and body control. Because all body functions depend in some way on muscle movement, children with CP can also have difficulty eating, swallowing, breathing, and speaking. Children with CP can also have cognitive (thought and intelligence) disabilities.

There are several causes of CP. The two causes most related to birth injury are infections and oxygen deprivation. Many times, the brain injuries caused by oxygen deprivation or infection could have been avoided if the physician had used the correct preventative measures. For example, if a physician fails to monitor fetal distress and take the appropriate actions, the infant may develop CP. Other instances include:

  • Failure to monitor, detect, and treat maternal infections
  • Failure to plan and carry out an emergency C-section
  • Failure to identify and treat a prolapsed umbilical cord
  • Failure to use birth-assisting tools correctly

In order to understand what doctors and lawyers mean when discussing an infant brain injury, it is important to be familiar with a few key terms:

HYPOXIC ISCHEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) is a brain injury that occurs from too little oxygen reaching the baby’s brain. Hypoxia is a medical term for too little oxygen in the blood stream. Ischemia is the medical term for cell and tissue damage caused by too little oxygen. Encephalopathy is the medical term used to describe disease, damage or malfunction of the brain.

When doctors and lawyers speak of HIE, they are talking about brain damage that occurred because the baby’s brain received too little oxygen for too long. Often, these babies are diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.

ANOXIA

This term is used to describe an absence of oxygen to the brain. Think in terms of a garden hose. Hypoxia occurs when the water is turned down. Anoxia occurs when the water is turned off. Children who suffer an anoxic event often have a severe form of cerebral palsy because more significant brain cell death has occurred.

HEMORRHAGE

This term is used to describe bleeding or blood leaking outside of the blood vessels. There are several circumstances related to birth injury in which a hemorrhage is relevant. While inside the womb, baby and mom share one circulatory system. Mom’s blood gets to her baby from blood vessels between her uterus and the placenta which connects to the baby through the umbilical cord. If there is a disruption anywhere in the system, (a hemorrhage) the baby will receive less blood. If this disruption is too severe, or lasts too long, the baby can suffer injury from lack of blood supply to her brain and other vital organs.

UMBILICAL CORD COMPRESSION

 
 
 
 
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A disruption in blood flow through the umbilical cord can occur from the cord being kinked or squeezed. This stops or blocks blood flow through the umbilical cord leaving the baby with too little blood supply to her brain and vital organs. If the cord is compressed or kinked for too long, this damage can be permanent.
OLIGOHYDRAMNIOS

This is the medical term for low amniotic fluid. The amniotic fluid is the “water” that surrounds the baby in his mother’s uterus. If there isn’t enough fluid, several problems can occur, including cord compression from the baby’s own weight pressing down on the umbilical cord.

PLACENTAL ABRUPTION

 
 
 
 
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The placenta is the organ responsible for ensuring blood and nutrients get from mom to baby while baby is growing inside the uterus. The placenta is attached to the inner wall of the uterus through a complex network of blood vessels. At times, part of the placenta can tear away from the uterine wall. This is called an “abruption”, and can disrupt the proper flow of blood and nutrients to the baby.

PLACENTAL INSUFFICIENCY

This occurs when the placenta is not delivering is a complication of pregnancy when the placenta is unable to deliver an adequate supply of nutrients and oxygen to the baby.

UTERINE RUPTURE
The term “uterine rupture” refers to a tear in the uterine wall during pregnancy. It is a rare complication, most associated with women who have had a prior c-section. As the baby grows inside the womb, the uterus stretches. Sometimes, instead of stretching along with the other uterine tissue, the scar tissue from a prior c-section can tear, creating a dangerous situation for both the mother and baby. The tear most often occurs at the end of the pregnancy, when the uterine wall experiences the stresses of labor. Because of this, many women who have had a c-section will choose to forgo a vaginal birth, (also called a “V-BACK”) and opt instead to deliver all of their future babies by c-section. The symptoms most associated with uterine rupture are:
  • Vaginal bleeding
  • Sharp pain between contractions
  • Contractions that slow down or become less intense
  • Unusual abdominal pain or tenderness
  • Recession of the fetal head (baby’s head moving back up into the birth canal)
  • Bulging under the pubic bone (baby’s head has protruded outside of the uterine scar)
  • Sharp onset of pain at the site of the previous scar
  • Uterine atony (loss of uterine muscle tone)
  • Maternal tachycardia (rapid heart rate) and hypotension
  • Abnormal fetal heart tones, variable decelerations
  • Bradycardia (slow heart rate)
WHOLE BODY COOLING FOR BIRTH RELATED HIE

Research has concluded that the best predictor of long-term outcome following perinatal injury is the presence of newborn brain swelling. If moderate swelling is present, the risk of death is less than 10% and as many as one-third of the survivors have physical disabilities. With severe swelling, mortality is higher (as much as 60%) and many, if not all, survivors are handicapped. The benefit of whole body cooling (induced hypothermia) in newborns with post-asphyxia brain swelling has been proven in high-quality randomized controlled trials to be safe and has been adopted as standard of care at most of the large hospitals in the United States.

The aim of the cooling protocol is to reduce the newborn’s body temperature to between 33.5°C and 34.5°C within 6 hours of birth. This temperature is then maintained without interruption for 72 hours. The baby is then slowly re-warmed over a period of at least 4 hours at a rate of 0.5°C per hour until the rectal temperature reaches the desired range of 36.5-37°C.

IF YOUR BABY WAS PLACED IN A COOLING PROTOCOL AFTER BIRTH, YOU SHOULD CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY.
CHORIOAMNIONITIS

 

Chorioamnionitis is a medical term used to describe an infection that gets into the amniotic fluid and the sac surrounding the baby. It is caused when bacteria normally present in the vagina ascend into the uterus. The amniotic fluid and placenta — as well as the baby — can become infected.

SEPSIS
Sepsis is the result of infection. It occurs when chemicals released into the bloodstream to fight the infection start to “poison” other parts of the body. Left untreated, these chemicals can damage multiple organ systems, causing them to fail.
PERIVENTRICULAR LEUKOMALACIA
Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL) is a form of brain injury involving the white matter of the brain. Premature babies are especially at risk for developing PVL because their lungs did not have enough time to fully develop before birth. Without proper lung function, the baby cannot get enough oxygen to his brain. This causes parts of the brain to die, leaving the baby with a form of cerebral palsy
Physical Birth Injuries

There are several types of physical injuries that can occur during birth. Many involve trauma to the skull and face from improper use of birth-assist devices like vacuum extractors or forceps. During c-section delivery, babies can be cut by the scalpel. While these injuries can be serious, they most often resolve just like any other cut or bruise.

 
SHOULDER DYSTOCIA

Shoulder dystocia is not a birth injury. It is a medical description of an event that occurs during the birth process. A shoulder dystocia occurs when an infant’s head and shoulders get trapped behind the mother’s pelvic bone during delivery. If a shoulder dystocia is not properly recognized and managed by the doctors, both baby and mother can be severely injured. Mother can suffer uterine rupture, and the baby may experience a collarbone fracture, cerebral palsy, a brachial plexus injury, an erb’s palsy, and in some instances, death.

BRACHIAL PLEXUS INJURY
A brachial plexus injury, also called an “Erb’s Palsy” is diagnosed when a newborn baby shows weakness or lack of movement in one or both arms. These findings are evidence of damage or injury to the nerves in the brachial plexus; the area near the baby’s neck where certain nerves leaving the spinal cord extend across the top of the baby’s shoulder and down into her arm. An Erb’s palsy is frequently caused by something called a “shoulder dystocia” during delivery. Shoulder dystocia is the medical term doctors use to describe a baby’s shoulder geting “stuck” or “hung up” on something as she is pushed down the birth canal. Doctors are supposed to recognize this immediately, and take actions to release the baby’s shoulder. If they don’t, the forces of labor and mom’s pushing will move the baby’s body forward, but the shoulder will be stuck in place. This can cause the baby’s arm to be pulled down, away from her head. This pulling can stretch, and sometimes even tear, the nerves in the baby’s shoulder. Nerves are the wires through which our brain sends signals to the rest of the body. If these wires are damaged or torn, the signals can’t travel through them properly. If a baby suffers a brachial plexus injury during birth, her brain will have less ability to send messages to her arm, wrist, hand, or fingers. That is why babies with an Erb’s palsy have a weak grip in one hand, or look as if their arm is paralyzed and constantly bent at the elbow.
BRACHIAL PLEXUS INJURY TREATMENT

 

  • See your pediatrician
  • See your specialists
  • Follow their advice and physical therapy plan!

Treatment for an Erb’s palsy usually involves several types of specialty doctors working together. A pediatric neurologist (nerve specialist) will work with a physical therapist and an orthopedic surgeon. Their goal will be to repair the damaged nerves (if possible) and to strengthen the muscles and nerve signals around the injured area. Because babies grow develop so quickly, early treatment is critically important. Early treatment and strict adherence to physical therapy plans, including exercises the doctor will teach you to do for your baby, give the baby’s body the best chance of diminishing the long term effects of his injury.

Babies are incredibly resilient. Thus, early, proper and consistent treatment has been shown to “cure” almost 75% of Erb’s palsy symptoms by the baby’s first birthday. However, there are cases where the injury is severe enough to cause lifelong problems. Although such cases are rare, these children can face the life long challenge of having an arm that does not work properly. Difficulty with performing daily tasks may lead to anger and frustration. Limited use of the arm can make participation in sports and other activities hard or impossible. As you can imagine, this can cause the child to suffer psychologically and emotionally. Counseling by a child psychologist can help with these real and important issues.

ERB’S PALSY

Erb’s palsy is a term used by doctors to describe a baby with muscle and nerve dysfunction in one or both arms caused by damage or malformation of the brachial plexus nerves. It is named after Wilhelm Erb, who, in 1874 concluded that associated paralyses of the shoulder, back, and arms are derived from damage to the nerves in the brachial plexus region, rather than isolated nerves further down the arms. It is marked by the nerves of the upper arm being affected, usually after a birth injury. Infants with Erb’s palsy may experience the loss of feeling and weakness in the affected arm and hand. In severe cases, infants may have total paralysis in the affected arm.

KLUMKE’S PALSY

Klumpke’s palsy is diagnosed when damage to the lower nerves in the arm affects the arm, wrists, and fingers. It is named after Augusta Déjerine-Klumpke, an American-born French physician known for her work in neuroanatomy. A baby with Klumpke’s palsy will usually have total paralysis in the lower half of the affected arm, and the hand usually takes on a permanent, claw-like shape.

HEAD INJURIES

Head injury during birth is far less common than a brachial plexus injury. When it does occur, it is usually associated with the doctor’s use of either a vacuum extractor and/or forceps to assist with delivering the baby. Both of these devices are applied to the baby’s head. Improper use can cause bruising and swelling around the baby’s head and face. This will usually resolve within a few days and have no long term effects.

However, improper use of forceps and/or vacuum devices can also damage the blood vessels in and around the baby’s brain, or the nerves leading from the brain to the rest of the spinal cord. This may cause loss of memory, speech, or movement in the affected area.

Your baby’s pediatrician should be aware that your baby was delivered by vacuum or forceps, and be on close watch for any developmental delays. Your baby should be seen by specialists in neurology and physical medicine at the first sign of decreased physical or mental development.

Birth Injury Infections

Infections can have serious consequences for developing and newborn babies, including brain and other major organ damage. An infection can be transmitted to an unborn baby via the placenta, the umbilical cord, the amniotic fluid, or the vaginal canal. Of course, it is the doctor’s responsibility to detect and treat infections, and to take measures to protect the baby from the harm these infections can cause. Some of the more common infections associated with preventable birth injury cases are:

CHORIOAMNIONITIS
This is an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the baby in her mother’s uterus due to a bacterial infection. It typically results from bacteria ascending into the uterus from the vagina and is most often associated with prolonged labor. The risk of developing chorioamnionitis increases with each vaginal examination that is performed in the final month of pregnancy, including during labor. Failure of the doctor to recognize the onset of chorioamnionitis and timely deliver the baby can result in permanent and serious injury or even death.
GROUP B STREP (GBS)

GBS is a bacteria commonly found in the lower part of the digestive system (colon) and, in women, the vagina. In healthy adults, GBS is not harmful and does not cause medical problems. But in pregnant women and newborn infants, being infected with GBS can cause serious illness.

Approximately one in three pregnant women in the US carries GBS in their intestinal tract and/or in their vagina. Carrying GBS is not the same as being infected. Carriers are not sick and do not need treatment during pregnancy. There is no treatment that can stop you from carrying GBS.

Pregnant women who are carriers of GBS can become infected. GBS can cause urinary tract infections (typically involving only the bladder), infection of the amniotic fluid (“bag of water” surrounding the fetus), and infection of the uterus after delivery. GBS infections during pregnancy may lead to preterm labor or stillbirth.

Pregnant women who carry GBS can pass on the bacteria to their newborns, and some of those babies become infected with GBS. Newborns who are infected with GBS can develop pneumonia (lung infection), septicemia (blood infection), and/or meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord).

These complications can be prevented by giving intravenous antibiotics during labor to any woman who is at risk of GBS infection.

You are at risk of GBS infection if:
  • You have a urine culture during your current pregnancy showing GBS
  • You have a vaginal and rectal swab culture during your current pregnancy showing GBS
  • You had an infant infected with GBS in the past
If you go into labor and have not had a culture for GBS in your current pregnancy or a previously affected infant, you are at risk for GBS if:
  • You go into labor prematurely (more than three weeks before your due date)
  • You have a fever ≥100.4 degrees Fahrenheit during labor
  • You have ruptured membranes for ≥48 hours
GENITAL HERPES

The biggest concern with genital herpes during pregnancy is that you might transmit it to your baby during labor and delivery. Newborn herpes is relatively rare (about 1,500 newborns are affected each year), but the disease can be devastating, so it’s important to learn how to reduce your baby’s risk of becoming infected. You can transmit herpes to your baby during labor and delivery if you’re contagious, or “shedding virus,” at that time. The risk of transmission is high if you get herpes for the first time (a primary infection) late in your pregnancy.

Much less commonly, you can transmit the virus if you’re having a recurrent infection. If you’ve ever had a herpes outbreak, the virus remains in your body and can become reactivated. In rare cases, a pregnant woman may transmit the infection to her baby through the placenta if she gets herpes for the first time in her first trimester. If a baby is infected this way, the virus can cause a miscarriage or serious birth defects.

If you’re having an outbreak or symptoms of an impending outbreak when your water breaks or when you go into labor, you’ll need an immediate cesarean delivery. This would be the case if you have any visible sores on your cervix, vagina, or external genitals, or any symptoms, like tingling, burning, or pain, that sometimes signal an imminent outbreak. (Currently, there’s no quick and reliable way to test whether you’re actually shedding virus.)

To improve your chances of being able to deliver vaginally, most experts — including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — recommend that pregnant women with recurrent genital herpes be offered oral antiviral medication from 36 weeks or so until delivery. Recent studies show that this reduces the risk of an outbreak at the time of labor.

If you first get genital herpes late in pregnancy and blood tests confirm you’ve never had it before, some experts recommend having a cesarean section even if you don’t have symptoms when you go into labor. About a third of the time, newborn herpes affects a baby’s skin, eyes, or mouth, but not his other organs. If that’s the case, he may have sores at delivery or develop them up to four weeks later. They typically turn up between 1 and 2 weeks of age.

Herpes lesions usually look like blisters and can appear anywhere on a baby’s body. They often appear where there has been a small break in the skin or any trauma — like where the hospital wristband was or where an electrode was placed on his head to monitor his heart rate during labor.

If your baby has herpes that’s limited to the skin, eyes, and mouth and gets prompt treatment with intravenous acyclovir, he’ll most likely do well. One study showed that more than 90 percent of babies with this form of herpes were developing normally when they were tested as 1-year-olds, although an infected baby can have serious recurrent outbreaks or long-term problems.

If not treated promptly, a baby who starts out with herpes limited to the skin, eyes, and mouth can go on to develop an even more serious form of herpes.

In another third of newborns who get herpes, the central nervous system is affected. This most often shows up at about 2 to 3 weeks of age with symptoms such as irritability, fever, lethargy, poor feeding, or seizures.

The remaining third of newborns get what’s called “disseminated herpes”. This involves multiple organs, often the lungs and liver. It typically shows up during the first week after birth. Babies with disseminated herpes may or may not have skin lesions. (If they don’t, diagnosing herpes as the source of the baby’s illness is tricky.)

These latter forms of herpes are very serious. Unfortunately, even with prompt treatment, a number of these babies will die, and many of the survivors will end up with serious long-term health and developmental problems.

TRICHOMONIASIS

Trichomoniasis is a fairly common sexually transmitted infection that is caused by a microscopic parasite. A “trich” infection during pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of preterm birth, preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM), and having a low-birth-weight baby (a baby weighing less than 5.5 pounds at birth). Trichomoniasis can also make you more susceptible to HIV if you’re exposed to it.

It’s possible for your baby to become infected with the trich parasite during delivery, but that happens very rarely, and the infection can be treated with antibiotics.

You might not have any symptoms. If you do, you may have a yellowish or greenish vaginal discharge, often with a frothy appearance and an unpleasant odor, and your vagina and vulva might get red, irritated, or itchy. You might experience some discomfort while urinating or during intercourse, and possibly some spotting after intercourse. You may notice lower abdominal discomfort, but that symptom is less common. Symptoms could start soon after you become infected or show up much later. So, if you’ve just been diagnosed with trich, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you recently contracted it.

If you do have symptoms, let your practitioner know so you can be tested for trich and other possible culprits. To test for trichomoniasis, your practitioner will take a swab of vaginal fluid and examine it under a microscope. She may also send a sample to the lab for a more sensitive test.

Unless you have symptoms, you won’t be tested for trich. There’s no evidence that treating trich lowers your risk of complications, and some research suggests that it may even increase the risk of preterm birth. For this reason, only women with bothersome symptoms are tested and treated for trich during pregnancy.

If you have bothersome symptoms and are diagnosed with trich, you’ll be given a course of oral metronidazole, which is generally considered safe for the baby during pregnancy. Your partner should be treated at the same time, whether or not he has symptoms (most men don’t).

You’ll need to abstain from sexual intercourse until you’ve both finished the treatment and are symptom-free – otherwise, you risk being reinfected.

Have sex only with a partner who has sex only with you. If this isn’t the case, using condoms reduces the risk of transmission of trichomoniasis and most other STIs.

Birth Injuries Caused During Delivery

Birth injuries that occur during delivery are not uncommon. Improper use of vacuum extractors or forceps, administering the wrong medication, or mishandling the infant can result in serious injuries to newborns. Depending on how the physician handles the delivery, an infant may also experience injuries related to stress, decreased oxygen, high or low blood pressure.

CAPUT SUCCEDANEUM

Caput succedaneum is a condition marked by scalp swelling, typically during or shortly after birth. It is usually caused by pressure from the mother’s uterus or vaginal wall during delivery. Bruising of the scalp is more likely to happen during a long and difficult labor, especially in situations when the amniotic sac has broken and the baby’s head is unprotected while passing through the birth canal. Caput succedaneum can also be caused by the use of vacuum extraction devices during a protracted delivery.

CEPHALOHEMATOMA

Cephalohematoma is an accumulation of blood below the protective membrane that covers an infant’s skull. Cephalohematoma shows up as lumps on a baby’s head, usually several hours after delivery. The lumps feel soft and may grow larger during the baby’s first hours postpartum. Most cephalohematomas do not require medical attention and disappear within a few weeks or months as the body reabsorbs the blood. However, some cephalohematomas may cause jaundice if they are too large and too many red blood cells break down.

BRUISING & BROKEN BONES

Bruising may occur on a baby’s face, head, and/or other body parts due to the physical stresses of the passage through the birth canal or contact with bones and tissue in the mother’s pelvis. The use of forceps during delivery may also leave forceps marks on a newborn’s head or face, especially when doctors use too much force. In addition, vacuum extraction may cause lacerations or bruising on a baby’s scalp. Similar to bruising, broken bones can occur with improper use of birth-assisting tools or when an infant is tugged too forcefully. In extremely rare instances, a physician or someone on the medical staff may drop a newborn.

SUBCONJUNCTIVAL HEMORRHAGE

Subconjunctival hemorrhage is bleeding that occurs when small blood vessels in the baby’s eyes break. It may be present in one or both of the infant’s eyes and appears as a bright red band surrounding the iris. Subconjunctival hemorrhages do not cause permanent damage to the eyes. The red area vanishes within a matter of days as the body reabsorbs the blood.

BELL’S PALSY

Bells’ palsy occurs when a baby’s facial nerve is damaged during labor or birth. In most cases, nerve damage is caused by pressure on the infant’s face during the passage through the birth canal. However, facial paralysis can be also caused by doctors that use forceps during delivery. Nerve damage is most noticeable when babies cry. The facial muscles on the side where the nerve was injured can’t move, and the eye on that side remains open. Bell’s palsy eventually improves without treatment if the nerve is only bruised. If the baby’s facial nerve is torn, surgery may be needed to restore muscular function on the affected area..

BRACHIAL PLEXUS INJURY

A brachial plexus injury is the result of an injury to a baby’s brachial plexus. This is a network of nerves that connects the spinal cord to the baby’s arms and hands. Brachial plexus injuries are more common when there is a difficult birth, especially if a baby’s shoulder gets stuck in the birth canal and a doctor tugs hard on one arm to help extract the newborn.

The most common sign of brachial plexus injury is when a baby can’t flex or rotate the affected arm. The severity of the injury depends on how badly damaged the nerves are. If the nerves are only bruised or stretched, the injury heals over a period of weeks or months and arm movement is restored with the aid of physical therapy. More serious injuries, in which the nerves are torn, often result in permanent nerve damage.

OXYGEN DEPRIVATION

Oxygen deprivation before or during birth can cause serious health problems to a newborn. This type of birth trauma can occur if the placenta separates prematurely or if the umbilical cord becomes entangled around the baby’s neck and reduces oxygen flow to the brain.

Lack of oxygen at birth often causes damage to a baby’s cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls the body motor functions. This results in the onset of cerebral palsy (CP), a group of neuromuscular disabilities that affect a child’s ability to control movement, posture, and muscle tone.

Oxygen deprivation can also occur if a baby doesn’t start breathing independently after birth. Delays in breathing that last for 3 minutes or more are associated with a high risk of brain cell death, and can cause seizures, coma, and, if a baby is not placed on life support in time, death.

Oxygen deprivation causes permanent disabilities like cerebral palsy, and is also a major cause of hearing impairment, partial or total blindness, learning disabilities, and other complications.

 
FRACTURES

Fractures are the most common injuries associated with birth trauma. Fractures generally affect a baby’s clavicle (collarbone) and are frequently caused by shoulder dystocia or during breech deliveries. This type of injury prevents a baby from moving the arm on the affected side. If the infant feels pain as a result of the fracture, a splint or soft bandage is needed to prevent jostling of the arm until the injury heals. Most birth traumas are conditions that usually heal on their own without any medical treatment. Babies often recover with few or no complications, although individual outcomes depend on a wide range of factors, such as the severity and cause of the injuries.

In many instances, birth trauma can be avoided if doctors recognize and foresee medical risk factors. Proactive measures, such as monitoring the mother’s health or using ultrasound images to check the fetus’ position in the weeks and days before labor, often prevent birth trauma and injuries.

 
EPIDURAL BIRTH INJURIES

An epidural is a popular pain-management method used by millions of women each year while going through labor and delivery. Despite its popularity and common use, there are a variety of risks associated with epidurals which can lead to epidural birth injuries as well as long-term maternal injuries.

You should always give permission before an epidural is administered. It is the healthcare provider’s obligation to inform you of all the risks associated with the procedure. Be certain to request information on the type of medicine to be used, the risks, the complications, and any other pertinent information before consenting to an epidural. Although an epidural provides significant pain relief during labor, it’s important to understand the risks as well as the benefits. It’s always a good idea to research beforehand and weigh out the pros and cons. Maternal risks associated with epidurals include: Seizures and dizziness / Infections / Spinal membrane injuries / Breathing problems Nerve damage / Long-term back pain / Epidural Headache Increased risk of vacuum extraction or forceps use during delivery / Lower blood pressure

Infant risks include: Lack of oxygen leading to cognitive disorders and cerebral palsy / Brain injuries Infant stroke / Coma / Poor muscle tone

Administering an epidural must always be done by a professional anesthesiologist or nurse-anesthetist with proper education, experience, and training. Since the area involved is so close to the spinal cord, even a small mistake can lead to devastating consequences. Some of the more common mistakes associated with epidural negligence are:

Administering too much medication / Administering the wrong medication / Injecting the needle into the wrong area / Failing to monitor maternal and fetal distress/ Giving the epidural too soon / Giving the epidural to a mother who uses blood thinners

 
FETAL LACERATIONS

Fetal lacerations (cuts) usually occur during a caesarian-section delivery as a result of improper procedures performed by medical personnel during childbirth. The injuries are caused by nicks and cuts from scalpels, forceps, and other instruments used by physicians while performing a surgically-assisted delivery. These lacerations are mostly minor and easily treated in the delivery room, but in some cases they can be deep and require stitches or reconstructive surgery.

FORCEPS DELIVERY

A pair of forceps is a tool used by doctors to assist with a difficult delivery. The tool closely resembles large salad tongs. The open end of forceps are typically placed around infant’s head to help guide the baby out during the mother’s contractions.

There are risks of injury to both mother and baby when forceps are used. Mothers are at risk for tears and lacerations in the vaginal and perianal area that can lead to fecal and/or urinary continence. Babies are at risk for cuts and bruises to the head and face. Babies can also suffer facial nerve injuries or even brain damage. You have a choice regarding use of forceps during delivery. Doctors are obligated to inform you of their use, and the risks associated with it.

HORNER’S SYNDROME

Horner’s syndrome refers to damage to the nerve pathway that leads from the brain to the eye and face on the affected side of the body. 65% of Horner’s Syndrome cases are from trauma suffered during the birth process. The trauma is usually associated with Improper use of forceps during delivery, or pulling too hard on the baby while the baby’s shoulder is impacted, or the baby is breech. The most common symptoms of Horner’s Syndrome are pupils (the black spots in the center of the eye) that are different sizes, or that open and close at different speeds. The eyelid of the affected eye may droop, or the affected eye may appear “sunken”.

HYDROCEPHALUS

Hydrocephalus is an unusual buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the baby’s brain. This may or may not cause problems for the infant. Because their skulls are still able to expand, some babies don’t experience any negative effects from the excess fluid buildup inside their brain. However, some babies can suffer devastating brain injuries from the increased pressure inside their heads.

The most obvious signs of hydrocephalus in babies are an abnormally large head or an unusually fast increase of the head’s circumference. Hydrocephalus may also cause headaches, irritability, vomiting, seizures, and sleepiness. In severe cases, hydrocephalus may also cause comas. Babies with hydrocephalus present at birth are said to have “congenital hydrocephalus”. Genetic abnormalities or developmental disorders linked to conditions such as spina bifida sometimes cause the congenital forms of hydrocephalus.

Babies who develop hydrocephalus after birth are said to have “acquired hydrocephalus”. External factors, including other diseases or head trauma, usually cause acquired hydrocephalus. Treatment for hydrocephalus is usually surgical. Doctors will place tubes (shunts) into the brain that allow the fluid to drain and flow normally. However, shunt systems need constant monitoring and regular medical follow-ups.

Because hydrocephalus often causes neurological damage, it can have a negative effect on a child’s intellectual and physical development. If left untreated, progressive hydrocephalus can be fatal.

BRAIN HEMORRHAGE

A brain hemorrhage is the medical term for bleeding within the brain. This bleeding can be caused by trauma, high blood pressure, blood vessel abnormalities, blood disorders, liver disease, or brain tumors. The use of birth-assisted tools during delivery can, in rare instances, lead to hemorrhaging. Bleeding inside the brain can cause brain cells to die, leaving the baby with permanent brain damage.

It is often difficult to diagnose a brain hemorrhage in a baby. Usually, doctors will look for difficulty swallowing, lethargy, loss of consciousness, nausea or vomiting, weakness in an arm or leg, or seizures. Testing for brain bleeding includes head CT scan and head MRI. Surgery is usually the treatment for a brain hemorrhage. Surgery is important to stop the bleeding, and to keep other brain cells from dying.

BRAIN ISCHEMIA

The term “ischemia” refers to a process that occurs when parts of the body do not receive enough blood because of a blocked or ruptured blood vessel(s). When this happens, the cells that depend on the affected blood supply “starve” to death. When ischemia occurs in the brain, the parts of the body controlled by the affected area stop working properly. Patients with brain ischemia may notice blindness in one eye, dizziness or vertigo, loss of coordination, weakness or paralysis in one arm or leg, on one whole side of the body, or on both sides of the body.

In babies, brain ischemia is harder to diagnose because of the baby’s inability to communicate. Often, symptoms such as lethargy, loss of consciousness, decreased movement, or seizures lead doctors to perform brain imaging studies on the baby. These imaging studies can show doctors whether there has been ischemic injury to the brain, and help them decide how best to treat it.

There are many causes of infant brain ischemia. These include infection, placental disorders, dehydration, oxygen deprivation, and birth asphyxia. Some types of infant brain ischemia are preventable, but only if the doctor recognizes the cause and provides the proper treatment.

CHORIOAMNIONITIS

Chorioamnionitis is an inflammation of the membranes (the fluid-filled sack) surrounding the baby in her mother’s uterus. It is caused by a bacterial infection. It typically results from bacteria ascending into the uterus from the vagina and is most often associated with prolonged labor. The risk of developing chorioamnionitis increases with each vaginal examination that is performed in the final month of pregnancy, including during labor. Failure of the doctor to recognize the onset of chorioamnionitis and timely deliver the baby can result in permanent and serious injury or even death.

HYPOXIC ISCHEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) is a brain injury that occurs from too little oxygen reaching the baby’s brain. Hypoxia is a medical term for too little oxygen in the blood stream. Ischemia is the medical term for cell and tissue damage caused by too little oxygen. Encephalopathy is the medical term used to describe disease, damage or malfunction of the brain. Often, babies who suffer HIE are later diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.

There are a number of medical conditions that can cause HIE during pregnancy. These include the mother having diabetes, poor circulation to the placenta, high blood pressure, infection, drug and alcohol abuse, and fetal anemia.

HIE can also be caused during the labor and delivery period. During the labor process, excessive bleeding from the placenta, low maternal blood pressure, umbilical cord accidents, prolonged late stages of labor, abnormal fetal position, or rupture of the uterus can lead to decreased amounts of oxygen in the baby’s brain leading to HIE.

Babies can also suffer HIE after birth. If the baby is born too early, her lungs may not have developed enough to provide adequate oxygen to her brain. If the baby is born with severe heart or lung disease, has an infection, or suffers from chronic apnea (periods of time where the baby stops breathing), HIE may result. In infants, the symptoms of HIE are usually a slow heart rate, poor muscle tone, weak breathing or no breathing at all, bluish or pale skin color, or excessive acid in the blood.

Babies who suffer a period of HIE may go on to suffer developmental delays, epilepsy, cognitive issues, motor skill development delays, and neurodevelopment delays. Children who suffer a prolonged period of HIE may be diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.

KERNICTERUS (JAUNDICE)

Jaundice is an abnormal buildup of a substance called bilirubin. When red blood cells break down, bilirubin is formed. Usually, the liver filters out excess bilirubin from the blood. In newborn babies, however, the liver may not be ready to process the bilirubin quickly enough. This can allow bilirubin to build up in the blood and other tissues and fluids of the baby’s body. Because bilirubin has a yellowish color, it causes a yellowing of the baby’s skin, eyes, and other tissues. This is called jaundice. If the excess bilirubin is left untreated, it can lead to serious medical complications. One of the most serious of these complications is called Kernicterus.

Kernicterus is a rare form of brain damage that occurs due to high levels of bilirubin. The symptoms associated with the early stages of Kernicterus include poor feeding, jaundice, poor muscle tone, and lethargy. As the disease progresses, the baby may start to make high-pitched shrieks, and have seizures. The soft spot on top of the baby’s head may start to bulge.

Left untreated, kernicterus can lead to permanent and serious brain damage. The baby may be left with learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, hearing loss, and may even die.

Treatment for jaundice can be as simple as placing the baby under ultraviolet lights. However, if the baby has had high levels of bilirubin for a while, the doctor may order blood transfusions. The blood transfusions are designed to get more healthy blood into the baby’s system as quickly as possible.

MECONIUM ASPIRATION SYNDROME

Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) occurs when a newborn breathes in a mixture of meconium (solid waste) and amniotic fluid. After birth, this mixture can get into the baby’s lungs and prevent the lungs from delivering the right amount of oxygen into the baby’s blood.

Babies can release meconium (which is sort of like poop) in response to the stress of labor. The baby can then suck in the meconium while still in the uterus. The baby can also breathe in the meconium just after delivery, while trying to take his/her first gulps of air. This can block the baby’s airway just after delivery. Babies with MAS can have a bluish appearance shortly after birth. Doctors will check to see if the baby is making crackling noises while breathing, and insert a tube into the infant’s airways to clear out the meconium and amniotic fluid. If MAS is not treated in time, the lack of oxygen in the baby’s blood can cause a stroke, brain damage or cerebral palsy.

PERSISTENT PULMONARY HYPERTENSION (PPHN)

Persistent pulmonary hypertension occurs when the baby’s blood circulation bypasses the lungs, preventing the baby from breathing. With PPHN, the baby does not change over from fetal to normal newborn circulation. Blood is forced away from the lungs due to high blood pressure in the arteries that go to the lungs. This decreases the baby’s supply of oxygen.

Babies with PPHN will often exhibit rapid breathing (more than 60 times a minute), grunting or moaning when the baby breathes out, chest retractions, a blue color of the lips or around the mouth, cool or blue hands and feet, low blood oxygen levels, low blood pressure, decreased urine output, and swelling.

A cardiac ultrasound test is used to check the pathway of blood circulation. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the baby is given oxygen and medicines and is kept quiet and warm. Treatment for severe, life-threatening PPHN may involve treating with nitrous oxide or a procedure called ECMO.

If PPHN is not properly and timely treated the baby’s brain can be damaged. This can cause long-term thinking and learning difficulties, cerebral palsy, or even death.

Wrongful Birth

Also called “Wrongful Life”, these cases stir up intense controversy. Can any life be “wrongful”? Is it morally wrong to allow parents to abort an “imperfect” fetus? If we set aside societal judgment and community opinion and focus strictly on the law, we find that about half of the states recognize a claim for a doctor’s failure to inform and prepare parents that an infant will be born with a severe abnormality. While it is probably a misnomer, these cases are often called “wrongful birth” or “wrongful life” actions.

Wrongful birth actions are usually derived from the tests that doctors perform to check on the development of the baby at various stages in a pregnancy. These tests can detect abnormalities in the baby that parents may wish to avoid by terminating the pregnancy. This avoids a lifetime of pain and suffering for the child, and the enormous financial and emotional burden that would be placed on the parents.

Obviously, these cases create “battle lines” between pro-life and pro-choice advocates. There are intense personal, political, and social ramifications involved in pursuing a wrongful life case.

BIRTH INJURY SYMPTOMS

Diagnosis & Symptoms
Diagnosis of a Birth Injury

No one can diagnose their own child with a birth injury or a developmental delay. If you suspect that your child is consistently missing milestones or, if your child is showing other birth injury symptoms, it is critical to discuss your concerns with his/her pediatrician so that the proper medical investigation can be started.

This investigation could include imaging studies of your child’s brain such as CT, MRI or Ultrasound. It could also include blood testing for chemical, metabolic, or genetic abnormalities. Your child may have an EEG to study the electrical pathways of his or her brain. You may be referred to a specialist in pediatric neurology, physiatry, or orthopedics.

The process of diagnosis can be long and frustrating. Getting answers for the cause of your child’s condition often requires patience, persistence and time. Keep your appointments, take notes and ASK QUESTIONS! You can’t provide the proper care and support your child needs until you fully understand his/her condition and the treatment options available.

COMMON BIRTH INJURY SYMPTOMS

Calling birth injury symptoms “common” is probably a misnomer. Injuries suffered during the birth process can be physical and readily apparent. These include fractures, cuts, bruises, and nerve damage. If, however, the injuries are related to the brain and/or other internal organs, the signs of injury may not be apparent for some time.

As a parent, you should seek the advice of your child’s doctor if you observe any of the following:

  • Baby arches back while crying
  • Lack of movement in arm(s) or leg(s)
  • Curled up hand(s)
  • Breathlessness
  • Difficulties with sucking, eating, and swallowing
  • Excessive drooling
  • Excessive fussiness for no apparent reason
  • Grunting and/or high-pitched crying
  • Nausea, vomiting
  • Lethargy
  • Light sensitivity
  • Jaundice (yellow skin)
  • Blue lips, fingers, or toes
  • Poor weight gain
  • Seizures

Sometimes, the diagnosis of a brain injury suffered during the birth process is not made until an infant falls behind on his or her “developmental milestones”. These “milestones” are behaviors which most children exhibit by certain ages. It is important to note that every child is different, and not all will reach each of the milestones by the average time. Your child’s doctor will be able to discuss these milestones and your child’s abilities in more detail.

Child Development Milestones

Below is a list of the usual milestones and associated age ranges doctors use to assess development.

2 TO 4 MONTHS OLD

  • Baby will turn head in response to sound
  • Baby coos and smiles
  • Baby uses eyes to follow objects and recognizes faces
  • Baby can hold up and control head
  • Baby can reach and grasp objects
  • Baby pushes up on elbows if lying on stomach

6 TO 9 MONTHS OLD

  • Baby puts objects to mouth
  • Baby begins to crawl
  • Baby can roll from back to front and front to back
  • Baby passes objects from one hand to the other hand
  • Baby can sit upright without assistance
  • Baby can “bounce” up and down while being held with feet on floor
  • Baby can pick up small objects with fingers
  • Baby reacts to words and sounds

1 YEAR OLD

  • Understands simple instructions
  • Explores surroundings
  • May walk, or start trying to walk
  • Starts to say simple words

18 MONTHS OLD

  • Holds a pencil or crayon and scribbles alone
  • More advanced at standing and walking
  • Holds and eats with a spoon
  • Holds and drinks from a cup
  • Indicates which objects he/she wants

2-3 YEARS OLD

  • Knows and can say his/her name and age
  • Runs and kicks a ball
  • Draws lines and shapes
  • Identifies body parts
  • Identifies family members
  • Completes sentences and understands rhymes
  • Walks up and down stairs without help
  • Dresses and undresses without help

4-5 YEARS OLD

  • Uses the toilet without assistance
  • Works out simple problems with peers
  • Uses safety scissors
  • Recites his/her favorite stories
  • Climbs up onto things without assistance
Resources to Assist With Birth Injury Diagnosis

UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY (UCP)

UCP is an organization dedicated to advocacy for children with cerebral palsy and education of their caregivers. UCP educates, advocates and provides support services to ensure a life without limits for people with a spectrum of disabilities. UCP also serves as a clearinghouse for research, local assistance and other resources. www.ucp.org

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC)

The CDC acts as the United States’ health protection agency. CDC conducts critical scientific research and analysis and provides health information with the goal of protecting the U.S. against expensive and dangerous health threats. The CDC can provide detailed information about the known types of cerebral palsy, their symptoms, research and scientific articles. www.cdc.gov

KENNEDY KRIEGER INSTITUTE

Located in Baltimore, Kennedy Krieger Institute is an internationally recognized institution dedicated to improving the lives of children and young adults with pediatric developmental disabilities and disorders of the brain, spinal cord and musculoskeletal system, through patient care, special education, research, and professional training.

Kennedy Krieger’s patient care programs offer an interdisciplinary treatment approach tailored to the individual needs of each child, throughout all stages of care. Highly trained professionals from various disciplines and departments collaborate to design treatment plans specific to each patient’s needs. www.kennedykrieger.org

MARCH OF DIMES

The March of Dimes is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing birth defects and infant mortality. The March of Dimes has led the way to discover the genetic causes of birth defects, to promote newborn screening, and to educate medical professionals and the public about best practices for healthy pregnancy. The work done by the March of Dimes helped initiate the system of regional neonatal intensive care for premature and sick babies. www.marchofdimes.org

UNITED BRACHIAL PLEXUS NETWORK

The United Brachial Plexus Network (UBPN) is a non-profit organization devoted to providing information, support and leadership for families and those concerned with brachial plexus injuries worldwide. Available resources include their extensive website; online registry, outreach and awareness programs, and an in-depth publication. www.ubpn.org

THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE (NINDS)

NINDS is part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). It conducts and funds research on brain and nervous system disorders. The mission of NINDS is “to reduce the burden of neurological disease—a burden borne by every age group, every segment of society, and people all over the world”. NINDS basic science research focuses on studies of the fundamental biology of the brain and nervous system, genetics, neurodegeneration, learning and memory, motor control, brain repair, and synapses. NINDS also funds clinical research related to diseases and disorders of the brain and nervous system, including brachial plexus injuries, Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, stroke, and traumatic brain injury. www.ninds.nih.gov

MILD TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (GCS OF 13-15)

Some symptoms of mild TBI include:

Headache
Fatigue
Sleep disturbance
Irritability
Sensitivity to noise or light
Balance problems
Decreased concentration and attention span
Decreased speed of thinking
Memory problems
Nausea
Depression and anxiety
Emotional mood swings

This information is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice or examination. A person with a suspected brain injury should contact a physician immediately, go to the emergency room, or call 911 in the case of an emergency. Symptoms of mild TBI can be temporary. The majority of people with mild TBI recover, though the timetable for recovery can vary significantly from person to person.

TREATMENT

Treatment For Birth Injuries and Birth-Related Brain Injuries

For newborns deprived of oxygen during the birth process, the first goal of treatment is always to restore oxygen to the brain and other vital organs. Depending on the severity of the oxygen deprivation, this may be accomplished by mechanical ventilation (machine-assisted breathing), oxygen supplementation (face mask), or extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Recently, hypothermic therapy (cooling the baby in a special chamber) has shown beneficial results in reducing brain swelling and the long-term damages associated with it.

Oxygen deprivation can also cause a baby’s heart to tire and stop pumping. In that case, doctors may use CPR, defibrilation (shocking the heart back into rhythm) and drugs (like epinephrine and atropine) to get the heart restarted.

Severe loss of oxygen to the brain can also cause the baby to suffer seizures. In this instance, various anti-convulsant drugs like ativan, depakote, or carbatrol may be given.

Techniques for preventing damage to brain cells are an area of ongoing research. Hypothermia therapy for neonatal encephalopathy is the only evidence-supported therapy, but antioxidant drugs, control of blood glucose levels, and hemodilution (thinning of the blood) coupled with drug-induced hypertension are some treatment techniques currently under investigation. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is also being evaluated.

Mild to moderate cases of hypoxia (low oxygen) generally have no long-term impact on the baby’s brain. The outcome in cases of severe cerebral hypoxia will depend on the amount of brain tissue deprived of oxygen, and the speed with which oxygen was restored.

If cerebral hypoxia was localized to a specific part of the brain, brain damage will be localized to that region. A general consequence may be epilepsy.

The long-term effects will depend on the portion of the brain that was damaged. Damage to the left side of the brain typically causes problems with speech and language. Damage to the right side of the brain may interfere with the ability to express emotions or interpret what one sees. Damage on either side can cause paralysis or decreased mobility and muscle coordination.

BRACHIAL PLEXUS INJURY

Treatment for brachial plexus injuries (Erb’s Palsy or Klumke’s Palsy) includes splinting, occupational or physical therapy and, in some cases, surgery. Some brachial plexus injuries may heal without treatment. Many infants improve or recover within 6 months, but those that do not have a very poor outlook and will need further surgery to try to compensate for the nerve damage. The ability to bend the elbow (biceps function) by the third month of life is considered an indicator of probable recovery, with additional upward movement of the wrist, as well as straightening of thumb and fingers an even stronger indicator of excellent spontaneous improvement. Gentle range of motion exercises performed by parents, accompanied by repeated examinations by a physician, may be all that is necessary for patients with strong indicators of recovery.

REHABILITATION

There are many treatments to facilitate the process of recovery in people who have brachial plexus injuries. Improvements occur slowly and the rehabilitation process can take up to many years. Many factors should be considered when estimating recovery time, such as initial diagnosis of the injury, severity of the injury, and type of treatments used. Some forms of treatment include nerve grafts, medication, surgical decompression, nerve transfer, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Having an effective Occupational or Physical Therapy program is important when dealing with the unfortunate circumstances of brachial plexus injuries. One of the main goals of rehabilitation is to prevent muscle atrophy (loss of muscle tissue from disuse) until the nerves regain function. Electrical stimulation is an effective treatment to help patients reach this fundamental goal. Exercises that involve shoulder extension, flexion, elevation, depression, abduction and adduction facilitate healing by engaging the nerves in the damaged sites as well as improve muscle function. Stretching is done on a daily basis to improve or maintain range of motion. Stretching is important in order to rehabilitate since it increases the blood flow to the injury as well as facilitates nerves in functioning properly.

UTERINE RUPTURE

Although uterine scar ruptures for women laboring for a VBAC are rare, the medical response is a rapid cesarean. The longer it takes to diagnose and respond to a uterine rupture the more likely it is that the baby and/or the placenta can be pushed through the uterine wall and into the mother’s abdominal cavity. This places the mother at increased risk for hemorrhage and the baby at increased risk for brain injury or death.

Informed Choice Current US health law and medical-ethical guidelines give childbearing women who once gave birth by cesarean the option of laboring for a VBAC or scheduling an elective repeat cesarean. Women with one prior cesarean should be counseled by their doctors about VBAC during the early part of their pregnancy. Your doctor should give you comprehensive information about the benefits and risks of VBAC and elective repeat cesarean. Ultimately the decision about how to deliver your baby is YOURS.

For additional information see:

Additional Resources

 

MARYLAND THERAPEUTIC RIDING

Maryland Therapeutic Riding uses horses to help disabled children build core strength while creating a positive emotional bonding experience. www.horsesthatheal.org

EXERCISE THERAPY FOR DISABLED CHILDREN EQUINE (HORSE) THERAPY

Learning to ride a horse requires balance and coordination. Many physically disabled children lack muscle tone, and consequently, their coordination is severely lacking. Equine therapy gives a disabled child a physically enjoyable experience (learning to ride a horse) that also helps develop muscle tone, balance, and coordination. It also helps the child develop and improve upon hand-eye coordination. It achieves the same results as standard physical therapy but in a more pleasant setting.

For more information about equine therapy, please visit www.horsesthatheal.org

MARTIAL ARTS

For children with special needs the benefits of martial arts are invaluable. The structure and discipline the martial arts bring to a child’s daily life assist the child with overcoming the extra challenges presented by his/her disability.

The unique component of martial arts for children with special needs is the competition within themselves, not with others. Children with special needs must work on life skills, not competing with others for a trophy. Martial arts requires consistency and repetition. The continuous structure, discipline and physical demands of martial arts allow children with multisensory issues to thrive and enjoy a true sense of accomplishment. Focus, concentration, balance, tone, awareness, self regulation, core strength, reduced anxiety, and spatial awareness are just a few of the benefits your child will receive when you find the right martial arts program. For more information about martial arts programs for special needs children, please visit:

SWIMMING

Water decreases pressure on bones and joints, which is beneficial for children with physical disabilities. Being in the water is also fun for children, which can be an important motivator for exercise. Swimming lessons help kids with special needs in a number of key areas, including greater muscle strength and physical endurance, increased flexibility, more self-control, and, in many instances, improved behavioral outcomes.

For more information about swimming for children with special needs, please visit:

www.reachabilityfoundation.org

www.sensoryswim.com

www.specialneeds.com

Books For Parents

The Complete Guide To Special Education

Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Parent’s Guide

Teaching Motor Skills To Children With Cerebral Palsy

Kids Beyond Limits

Cerebral Palsy: A Complete Guide For Caregiving

ut Of My Mind

Books For Kids

Kids Beyond Limits

Cerebral Palsy: A Complete Guide For Caregiving

ut Of My Mind

Kids Beyond Limits

Cerebral Palsy: A Complete Guide For Caregiving

FINANCIAL RESOURCES

Maryland Financial Resources for Parents Dealing With a Birth Injury

SPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS

A special needs trust is set up for a person with special needs (the beneficiary) to supplement any government benefits the person receives. A special needs trust is designed to manage assets for that person’s benefit while not compromising access to important government benefits. The trust must be created by the beneficiary’s parent or grandparent, or by a court, but it cannot be created by the beneficiary, even though his assets are going to fund the trust. While the beneficiary is living, the funds in the trust are used for his benefit. When he dies, any assets remaining in the trust are used to reimburse the government for the cost of his medical care. These trusts are especially useful for people receiving SSI and/or medicaid who come into large amounts of money, such as a law suit settlement. The trust allows the beneficiary to retain his benefits while still being able to use his own funds when necessary.

POOLED SPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS

These trusts pool the resources of many disabled beneficiaries, and those resources are managed by a non-profit association. There are times when the amount of money available to fund the trust is not enough for an individual trust to make sense. In those instances we can direct our clients into these trusts, which provide the same asset protections and trust services of an individual trust, but spread the administration costs over a larger participant group. In addition, at the beneficiary’s death the state does not have to be repaid for its Medicaid expenses on her behalf as long as the funds are retained in the trust for the benefit of other disabled beneficiaries.

For more information on Pooled Special Needs Trusts please visit: www.shared-horizons.org

SPECIAL NEEDS HOME MODIFICATIONS

Homes can often be modified and made more accessible with some minor structural changes. We work with contractors who have specific experience in creating adaptive and accessible living spaces for our disabled clients.

You can also ask your child’s physical or occupational therapist for suggestions of adaptive equipment and modifications. There are sometimes inexpensive and creative solutions to improve accessibility. As you identify needed modifications, remember to think about your child’s future needs. As a child grows, will the bathroom be large enough and will the bedroom accommodate a hospital bed? Will you need a dedicated room for therapy? Some popular examples of home modifications include:

  • Constructing ramps
  • Widening doors and changing from knobs to levers
  • Lowering countertops
  • Installing grab bars, shower seats and walk-in bathtubs
  • Installing a stair glide or elevator

MEDICAL CARE AND SERVICES COORDINATION

Many of our clients have complex medical care and services needs. The time spent on ensuring appoints are kept and the right care and services are received can be overwhelming for their family members. Then, there is the added stress of making sure the right insurance and government entities pay for the care. To help, we direct our clients to organizations that provide care management for people with the most complex health, social and disability needs. Managed care case management is targeted care coordination and innovative services among managed care plan participants whose care needs are over and above those that are typical of most participants. Care needs may cover the spectrum of health and safety concerns related to trauma, rare diagnoses, catastrophic needs, or chronic illnesses that result in greater use of health care and therapeutic services.

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND ANALYSIS

Vocational rehabilitation is a process which enables persons with functional, psychological, developmental, cognitive and emotional impairments or health disabilities to overcome barriers to accessing, maintaining or returning to employment or other useful occupation.

Vocational rehabilitation can include:

  • assessment, appraisal, program evaluation and research.
  • goal setting and intervention planning.
  • provision of health advice and promotion, in support of returning to work.
  • support for self-management of health conditions.
  • making adjustments to the medical and psychological impact of a disability.
  • case management, referral, and service co-ordination.
  • psychosocial interventions.
  • career counseling, job analysis, job development, and placement services.
  • functional and work capacity evaluations

We work with a number of professionals in this field who are dedicated to finding ways our clients can grow and prosper as active contributing members of the community.

 

MEDICAID REM PROGRAM

The Rare and Expensive Case Management (REM) Program is a case managed fee for service program for individuals participating in Maryland Medical Assistance.The purpose of the program is to provide the integrated coordination of services for people with specialized health care needs. For purposes of the program, these needs have been defined as rare in occurrence and expensive to treat.

Many of our clients are eligible because of their specialized health care needs exceed the scope of services provided by Medicaid managed care organizations. Participating individuals have eligibility for all Medicaid plan covered services as well as an array of optional services.

Basic services under the state plan include medically necessary:

  • Physician visits
  • Inpatient hospital services
  • Pharmacy
  • Home health services
  • Radiology and lab services
  • Durable medical equipment
  • Disposable medical supplies
  • Therapies, including PT/OT/SL/Assistive Technology

Possible optional services may include medically necessary:

  • Private duty nursing and nursing assistance
  • Nutritional supplements
  • Dental care

F.A.Q.

Common Birth Injury & Cerebral Palsy Questions

HOW COMMON ARE BIRTH INJURIES?

Birth injury is defined as an impairment of the neonate’s body function or structure due to an adverse event that occurred at birth. The overall incidence of birth injuries has declined with improvements in obstetrical care and prenatal diagnosis. The reported incidence of birth injuries is about 2% in singleton vaginal births and 1% in singleton c-sections. The injury may occur during labor, delivery, or after delivery, especially in neonates who require resuscitation in the delivery room.

There is a wide spectrum of birth injuries ranging from minor and self-limited problems (eg, laceration or bruising) to severe injuries that may result in significant neonatal morbidity or mortality (ie, spinal cord injuries). The 10 most common birth injuries include: Brachial Plexus Palsy (Erb’s Palsy), bone fractures, cephalohematoma, caput succedaneum, perinatal asphyxia, intracranial hemorrhage, subconjunctival hemorrhage, facial paralysis; spinal cord injuries; and cerebral palsy.

According to the National Healthcare Quality Report (AHRQ), around 6.68 of every 1,000 birth injuries in the year 2000, in the United States, occurred to male infants, whereas 5.08 of every 1,000 birth injuries happened to female infants. In the same year, 4.33 out of every 1,000 birth traumas occurred in for-profit, private hospitals and 7.15 out of every 1,000 birth traumas occurred at private, non-profit hospitals.

Birth injuries are highest for mothers with birthing tool-assisted deliveries from ages 25-34, and lowest in mothers who range from 40-54. However, the birth injuries for mothers delivering non-instrument assisted vaginal births is only high for ages 25-29.

ARE INJURIES TO THE MOTHER CONSIDERED A BIRTH INJURY?

 

  • Yes, injuries to mothers are considered a birth injury.
  • Examples: vaginal tears during childbirth, post-partum hemorrhage, ruptured uterus, and prolapsed uterus.

CAN BRAIN INJURIES CAUSE MENTAL ILLNESS?

Yes, brain injury can cause mental illness, depending on the area(s) of the brain injured. Some injuries (e.g., a gunshot) are confined to a focal area whereas in other injuries (e.g., excessive shaking), the damage to the brain diffuses throughout the brain. Research has found that those with TBI are more likely to develop schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder.

CAN BIRTH INJURIES CAUSE BRAIN DAMAGE?

 

  • Yes, birth injuries can cause brain damage.
  • Examples: oxygen deprivation, subdural hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage, or trauma to the head.

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR A BIRTH INJURY CLAIM

In Maryland, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims is five (5) years from the time of the injury or three (3) from the discovery of the injury, whichever is shorter. The SOL on injuries to minor children generally do not begin to run until the child reaches 18 years of age. Wrongful infant death claims must be filed within three (3) years from the date of death.

WHO WILL RECEIVE MONEY AFTER A SUCCESSFUL LAWSUIT FOR A BIRTH INJURY?

The distribution of money after a successful lawsuit will not always be the same. In a birth injury case, the vast majority of the recovery is for the child. Therefore, the law requires that the money be placed in a protected trust and only used for the child’s direct benefit.

This can be difficult for many parents to accept. We often hear things like “why would anyone think I would steal from my baby?” Or, “I have other children who have been impacted by the added time and money it has cost to care for the injured baby, why can’t we use the money to help our whole family?”

These are legitimate and totally understandable questions. Dealing with these issues is never easy. That is why we continue to work with our clients even after the case is successfully resolved. We work trust managers, trust lawyers, and asset managers who are experts in this area of law, and who understand that our clients need to be cared for as a family unit. While each case is different, our goals are always the same: (1) ensure that the injured child will be able to afford the care and services he/she will need in the future; (2) ensure the injured child will be safe and secure even after his/her parents can no longer care for him/her; (3) ensure that the family is satisfied with the plan that has been put into place.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BIRTH DEFECT AND A BIRTH INJURY?

Generally, the difference lies in whether the outcome was preventable.

The development of a baby from two individual cells into a tiny human requires almost unimaginably complicated biological processes. If something goes “wrong” at any point in during the process, the child may not develop properly. These “errors” in the process of development lead to “birth defects”, such as a hole in the child’s heart, a missing arm, club feet, or a cleft palate. There are cases where these outcomes can be linked to a drug that was prescribed to the mother, or some environmental toxin to which she was exposed. However, the vast majority of these “process errors” are “birth defects” and there is no legal action that can be taken.

“Birth Injuries” are outcomes that could have and should have been prevented. Birth injury cases all start with identifying a time during the baby’s development or delivery where the medical providers had a chance to do something (or not do something) that would have prevented the child’s injury. If such a time exists, and it can be shown that proper medical care would have spared the child from the harm he/she currently suffers, then it is a birth injury case.

IS CEREBRAL PALSY AS BIRTH INJURY?

 

  • Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that affects the child’s motor skills, muscle tone, and movement. Most cases of cerebral palsy are the result of a congenital disorder, usually caused by brain damage in utero or during or shortly after birth. However, a childhood injury or severe medical condition can lead to cerebral palsy.
  • Cerebral palsy can be a birth injury if it is the result of brain damage caused by medical negligence during birth (i.e., preventable injuries), such as oxygen deprivation or improper use of forceps and other tools during delivery. Medical negligence can also be a failure to act, such as delaying a C-section or failing to perform one when medically necessary, improperly monitoring the health of the fetus, or not detecting and treating infections.

I REMEMBER SIGNING A CONSENT FORM, DOES THAT MEAN I HAVE NO BASIS FOR A LAWSUIT?

Signing a consent form does not take away your basis for a lawsuit. No one, including doctors and nurses, can touch you, give you drugs, or run tests on you without your permission. Therefore, you must sign a consent form to allow the doctors and nurses to treat and care for you. However, by signing the form you are not giving the doctors and nurses permission to make avoidable mistakes or be negligent in a way that harms you or your baby.

HOW LONG DOES A BIRTH INJURY CASE TAKE?

These cases are usually complicated and require significant time to properly develop and litigate. Generally, you can expect that it will take several months just to gather the medical records and other information we need to evaluate the case. Once that step is completed, we will usually spend another month or two working with medical experts to evaluate the medical care and scientific issues in the case. If our analysis concludes that a lawsuit should be filed, it will usually take another 15 to 18 months for the suit to reach conclusion.

CAN I GET FINANCIAL HELP WHILE MY CASE IS PENDING?

Caring for an injured child can be financially and emotionally draining. The stress can understandably lead to a feeling of desperation making “lawsuit loans” look attractive. However, we strongly discourage our clients from taking these loans. The costs of the loans are extraordinary, taxing, and almost never make good financial sense. We prefer to work with our clients to ensure they are receiving all of the government and charitable services available to them, and make every effort to find alternative ways to alleviate their stress.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO FILE A BIRTH INJURY CASE?

The answer to this question is rarely easy. The first step is contacting us to discuss the facts and circumstances of your injury. We never charge a fee for this discussion. In fact, we don’t charge our clients any fees unless we are able to secure a recovery for them.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO FILE A BRAIN OR SPINAL CORD INJURY CASE?

Nothing. There is no cost to you unless we win. If the case is successfully resolved, the costs of the lawsuit are repaid from the recovery.