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To understand the impact of preventable birth injuries, it helps to hear from families who face these challenges every day. Jackie, Lakesha, and Laura are mothers who faced the heartbreaking reality of having children with birth injuries. Learn how these mothers navigated the challenges of birth injuries and sought justice for their families.
Jackie From New York and Her Life-Altering Labor Experience
Jackie was an expecting mother from New York who was thrilled at the prospect of raising her new child. Her pregnancy was smooth and uncomplicated, and as her due date approached, she felt prepared.
Several hours into labor, Jackie’s baby arrived. Upon seeing her child for the first time, she noticed something unusual: severe bruising and swelling on the back of her baby’s head.
Concerned and unsure of what had gone wrong, Jackie explored her options and sought advice from her loved ones.
Which Birth Injuries Cause Bruising On the Back of the Head?
When Jackie saw her newborn’s injuries, she had no idea what occurred. Birth injuries can have multiple causes, some of which may be natural, and some caused by medical negligence.
Minor bruising is fairly common as a result of the labor and delivery process, but severe bruising accompanied by swelling could be signs of a permanent birth injury.
Common birth injuries linked with bruising and swelling include:
- Caput succedaneum: Swelling of the baby’s scalp caused by pressure during delivery, often with mild bruising
- Clavicle fracture: Broken collarbone resulting in swelling and bruising in the shoulder area
- Infant cephalohematoma: Blood collection under the scalp from trauma during childbirth, causing bruising and swelling
- Subgaleal hemorrhage: Bleeding between the scalp and skull, leading to severe swelling and bruising
Jackie wasn’t sure what happened to cause her baby’s birth injury, but she knew one thing: She was determined to take action.
Jackie Hired a Birth Injury Lawyer and Got Justice
In the face of unimaginable stress, Jackie knew she had to do something. Her baby was healthy until the labor process began. Something went wrong and she needed answers.
Jackie decided to contact an experienced birth injury lawyer. After Jackie shared her story, they guided her through the next steps to pursue justice for her child.
While no amount of money can undo her family’s suffering, her experienced attorneys helped her secure the birth injury settlement she needed to provide the best possible care for her child.
“Everything seemed fine during my pregnancy, but after hours of labor, my daughter arrived limp and unresponsive, with severe bruising and swelling on the back of her head. Thankfully, they fought for justice and the best care for my child. The compensation they secured for my daughter has been life-changing.”
– Jackie M., Birth Injury Client
If your baby was harmed, we may be able to connect you with a leading birth injury attorney near you.
Find out right now with a free case review.
Lakesha Noticed Problems When Her Child Was Almost 3
Lakesha is a Massachusetts mother who was excited to give birth to a healthy baby. Unfortunately, she had problems during labor. Lakesha had concerns, but felt that her doctor didn’t listen to her.
She could tell that something went wrong during her baby’s delivery, but she wasn’t sure if it could have been medical malpractice. She remembered spending time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) until her baby was well enough to go home.
In Lakesha’s case, it was almost three years after her child’s birth that she noticed something was off.
When Do You Notice a Child Suffered a Birth Injury?
Like Lakesha, many families only realize the effects of birth injuries months or even years after delivery.
Many birth injuries leave a visible impact that you can see immediately after the baby is born. For example, signs of swelling or an obvious injury.
In other cases, birth injuries may seem minor at first, but then begin to affect the child after several years. This was the case for Lakesha, who noticed significant developmental issues when her baby was almost three years of age.
In the months after a birth injury, symptoms may include:
- Difficulty feeding
- Seizures
- Unusual eye movement
Lakesha’s situation highlights the importance of monitoring your child’s progress, ensuring that they meet milestones without significant issues.
Lakesha Pursued Justice and Won
Faced with paying for a lifetime of care for her child, Lakesha looked into her options. She remembered how the doctor didn’t listen to her complaints during labor, and how that may have led to a birth injury.
She decided she wanted to seek justice for what happened by suing for her child’s birth injury.
“When my baby had a birth injury, it was really hard for our family. We decided to hire a Massachusetts law firm that knows about birth injuries. They helped us fight for justice and get the money we needed to give our child special care and treatments.”
– Lakesha T., Birth Injury Client
Laura’s Happiness Was Overshadowed by Trauma
Laura was thrilled to be expecting a baby girl and looked forward to all the milestones they would share together.
These dreams were soon dashed when complications arose during labor. These issues led to her child being born with a brain bleed.
In severe cases, brain bleeds, like intraventricular hemorrhage, can cause permanent brain damage.
Laura’s baby spent two months in the NICU, much longer than the average stay of 13.2 days. While her baby survived, the brain bleed had lasting effects. By age 4, it was clear her child would need lifelong care.
Which Birth Injuries Cause Brain Bleeds?
Several birth injuries can result in brain bleeds, which may lead to serious complications affecting a baby’s development and overall health.
Common causes of brain bleeds during childbirth include:
- Birth asphyxia: A lack of oxygen during labor can cause brain damage and, in some cases, brain bleeds, especially in premature babies.
- Birth trauma: Excessive force on a baby’s head or improper use of delivery tools like forceps or vacuum extractors increases the risk of brain bleeds.
- Skull fracture: A baby’s fragile skull can fracture during complicated deliveries, potentially causing brain bleeds.
If you or a loved one had a child who was injured at birth, it’s important to know that help is available. Get a free case review right now to learn about your options.
Laura Received Compensation for Her Child’s Care
No parent wants to believe their child has suffered a permanent birth injury. For Laura, this changed her family’s life forever.
When Laura noticed something wasn’t right with her child, she started looking for answers. Suspecting negligence was involved, she decided to take legal action.
Laura reached out to an experienced birth injury attorney and shared her story, explaining how her baby suffered a brain bleed during delivery. Her legal team supported her through the entire process and helped secure a settlement.
This compensation will help Laura focus on her daughter’s care without financial stress.
Get Legal Help for a Birth Injury
Jackie, Lakesha, and Laura each chose to take legal action against the medical professionals involved in harming their children.
In each case, they secured compensation that will help with their child’s care and future needs.
If your baby was harmed during childbirth, you may be eligible for compensation, too.
The Birth Injury Justice Center has registered nurses on staff who are here to help.
Call us at (800) 914-1562 or get a free case review to see if you may qualify.
