Types of Birth Injury

While the NHS complaints procedure won’t offer compensation for serious injuries suffered during pregnancy or childbirth you can still make a personal injury claim through Claim 500. These are some of the injuries that you can claim compensation for:

Cerebral palsy

It is estimated that around 10% of babies with cerebral palsy are born with it as a result of medical negligence. In these cases, brain damage may have been caused by physical trauma or a compression that causes a lack of oxygen to the brain, as sometimes experienced during a forceps or ventouse delivery or as the result of a prolonged labour. Call us now to speak to someone about your situation.

Brachial plexus palsy (Erb's Palsy)

This occurs when there is damage to sections of the brachial plexus – The nerves that control the muscles in your arm. Brachial plexus palsy can happen because of a stretch injury to your child’s head, neck or shoulder, which causes a loss of motion in the shoulder with the arm appearing limp and turned inward, bent at the elbow with the wrist flexed. This type of injury can also be as a result of road accident injuries; in birth injuries, forceps delivery or poor handling can be a contributing factor. Call now to find out more about your potential to make a compensation claim.

Broken bones

These can occur during a relatively normal delivery, as well as by foetal distress in the womb or birth canal or by a traumatic assisted delivery or medical negligence – for example if the newborn is not handled carefully by midwives or obstetricians. Call us if you have a query about your potential to make a claim.

Brain damage

There are multiple potential causes including oxygen deprivation, jaundice, physical trauma during labour and delivery, and maternal infections. Injuries of this kind can result in a number of disabilities and psychological issues, which vary in severity. Call now for an assessment of your situation.

Spinal damage

Spinal cord injuries in newborns are serious and often life threatening. Damage to the spine during the birth can result in malformation such a spina bifida. If it is due to medical negligence before, during or after delivery call now to find out more about your potential to make a claim.

Perinatal asphyxia or neonatal asphyxia

This is caused during pregnancy or delivery when the baby does not get enough oxygen. Raised foetal heartbeat is one of the signs that the baby is in distress. Perinatal asphyxia can lead to weaker breathing and other complications. If you would like to know if it is possible to make a medical negligence claim for perinatal asphyxia, please call us now for advice.

Hip dysplasia

A baby can be born with a dislocated hip due to developmental issue with the ligament (also known as ‘looseness’). If hospitals fail to spot the injury early on in the child’s development, it can lead to complications – this type of medical negligence can be claimed for. Call now to find out more about your potential to make a compensation claim.

Maternal diabetes

Previously healthy expectant mothers can contract maternal (gestational) diabetes which, without proper advice and management, can have an increased risk of complications for both mother and, because it can cross the placenta, baby too. The majority of cases are usually identified and treated. Pre-eclampsia usually involves monitoring and induced delivery. Call now to find out more if you think your pregnancy was mishandled.

Pre-eclampsia

Affecting up to 5% of pregnancies, pre-eclampsia is thought to be a restriction of blood through the placenta – meaning a baby won’t receive the oxygen and nutrients they need. If left undiagnosed it can lead to serious complications for mother and baby, and even death; however, most cases are detected and treated. Call now if you need to make a compensation claim or just want advice.

Maternal and neo-natal infections

Maternal infections that can affect an unborn child and their future development include Group P Strep (GBS), German Measles (Rubella), Herpes, Toxoplasma gondii and Chicken Pox. Infections must be identified and treated or managed by health professionals to minimise risk. Call us to talk about your situation and we can advise you on what steps you need to take next.

Lasting pain or gynaecological damage

Long-term health problems can occur in a minority of women after childbirth. These include back pain (perhaps caused by an epidural), scarring and discomfort (after an episiotomy or C-section) and generalised pelvic pain. A few mothers may experience severe complications like an obstetric fistula (a hole between the rectal and vaginal passages) or nerve damage, sometime as a result of medical negligence. Call now to find out more about your potential to make a compensation claim.

Incontinence, double incontinence

Perineal trauma is part of birth; however incontinence, double incontinence and pain during sex may be symptoms of medical negligence and you may have grounds to claim if you feel your treatment was mishandled. Contact us today to discuss your options with one of our claims advisors.

Further Information On Birth Injuries

Types of Birth Injury

Symptoms, Treatment and Rehabilitation of Birth Injuries

Advice and Information on Birth Injuries

Interim Payments for Birth Injury Claims