Signs of a Birth Injury in Your Child

Monday, November 23, 2020

Signs of a Birth Injury in Your Child

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

Birth injuries can cause life-long impacts on a child and their family. If your child sustained a birth injury due to the negligence of a medical professional, you might have a claim for medical malpractice. You can learn more by speaking to a qualified attorney.

You’ve planned and prepared to have a safe birth and a happy and healthy child in your home. Whether shortly after birth or months later, you start to notice some signs that your baby might not be healthy or developing normally. Learning that your child could have a birth injury brings up so many emotions, and birth injuries can lead to lifelong expenses. If you are noticing some of the signs of a birth injury in your child or your child’s care provider is concerned that they are not developing as they should, it is time to check in with a Chicago medical malpractice lawyer. 

Immediate Signs and Symptoms of a Birth Injury

Birth injuries can be challenging to identify. Sometimes a birth injury may not be detected until the child is months or even years of age. Not only can this cause problems with your child getting the medical treatment that they need, but it can also raise legal challenges. Early signs of birth injuries that doctors, medical staff, and parents should be aware of include:

1. Bruising, swelling, or abrasions on the child’s head, face, or shoulders
2. Seizures happening within 48 hours after birth
3. The infant’s need for CPR or a breathing tube after delivery
4. Failure to begin breathing immediately after delivery
5. Loose or limp arms, indicating a lack of muscle tone
6. Skull fractures
7. Sensitivity to light
8. Excessive drooling
9. Hand curled into a claw-like shape
10. Difficulty suckling, eating, or swallowing
11. Arched back while crying

If you notice any of these symptoms, be sure to immediately bring them to your doctor or nurse’s attention. It is their job to investigate these symptoms. If the medical staff fails to recognize and treat the immediate signs of a birth injury or is found to have caused them through neglect, they can be liable for medical malpractice with the help of your Chicago medical malpractice attorney.

Late Signs of Birth Injuries

As your child grows and develops, certain signs of birth injuries, like cerebral palsy, can become more evident. It’s essential to watch for these signs at each stage of your child’s development. Late birth injury symptoms include:

1. One month – Suckles and feeds slowly, failure to blink when a bright light is in their eyes, appears stiff or loose in extremities
2. Three months – Fails to respond to loud noises, doesn’t grasp or hold objects, can’t support their head, fails to push down with their legs when their feet are placed on a firm surface
3. Seven months – Stiff with excessively tight muscles, doesn’t have the ability to sit up without help, muscle tone seems low, won’t rollover
4. One year old – Won’t crawl, unable to stand, even with support, doesn’t say single words such as “dada” or “mama”

Do You Suspect a Birth Injury? A Compassionate Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer Can Help

If your child sustained a birth injury, your world might be upside down. While a Chicago medical malpractice lawyer can’t cure them or your heartache, they can help you as you seek justice and compensation for their injuries.

Call (312) 629-0099 or use our online contact form to schedule a free birth injury consultation with a compassionate Chicago medical malpractice attorney at Malman Law today. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can get started advocating for you and your child.