When a newborn suffers from birth injuries, the signs and symptoms may appear immediately or take up to a year to be seen. Birth injuries are those injuries when a child is coming out of the birth canal, and due to intense pressure, the child faces some complications like broken bones, compressed nerves, and more. Most of the complications are mild and resolve on their own. However, some complications are severe and require immediate medical attention to avoid any complications shortly.
Birth injuries can also occur due to negligence or carelessness of the medical professional present at the time of labor. In such cases, a female is entitled to file a medical malpractice claim against the doctors in charge. Lawyers from Johnston Law Firm can help with all the legal proceedings and hold the doctor accountable for their negligence.
Signs of birth injuries.
The signs and symptoms of birth injuries can occur immediately or after a few months to years. In the following blog, we have mentioned the signs occurring at a specific age period.
Signs and symptoms which occur almost immediately: These symptoms appear instantly or in a few hours after the delivery. These include:
- Need for resuscitation.
- Being pale or cyanosis.
- Breathlessness.
- Bradycardia.
- Seizures.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Favoring one side of the body.
- Hand curled into a claw-like shape.
- Weak reflexes.
- Muscle weakness or stiffness.
Signs and symptoms which occur in between 12-24 months: Some signs take time to appear, and these include:
- Difficulties are crawling.
- Loss of total control of bodily movements.
- Lack of coordination.
- Delayed speech.
- Involuntary pulling of the neck.
- Inability to sit or stand on their own.
- Difficulties with eating or drinking.
- Hearing difficulties.
Signs and symptoms which occur after two years: These symptoms usually make the parents believe that their baby is underdeveloped or there is a delay with the development. However, these signs can indicate a birth injury.
- Developmental disabilities.
- Difficulties with motor functions.
- Speech impairments or lack of speech.
- Tremors
- Difficulty with learning.
- Issues with eating, drinking, or dressing without help.
- Problems running or climbing stairs.
Suppose you observe any of the injuries mentioned above. In that case, you may look out for medical assistance immediately, as these injuries can give rise to severe complications in the future and can potentially be fatal for the baby.
The second thing a victim should look out for is a lawyer. A personal injury lawyer can help you get the deserving compensation. Moreover, an experienced lawyer will help ensure whether the injury occurred due to medical negligence or the damage is natural.
