Sometimes when a mother is in labor, complications arise that can cause serious problems. Most of the time the doctors and nurses are able to get things under control and the birth continues in a normal fashion. The baby is born fine and everybody’s happy. However, there can be certain complications that arise during birth that are not easily fixed. When a birth injury occurs, sometimes the brain is injured causing family pain and suffering that will last a lifetime.

Common Brain Injuries During Birth

The most common reason brain injuries occur during birth is low oxygen. When a baby's oxygen levels are low, they will show signs of distress. These signs should be noticeable to doctors and nurses and they should be able to get the baby out as soon as possible, by cesarean if necessary. Waiting too long to remove the baby or neglecting to see the signs, such as low heart rate, can result in cerebral palsy.

Another type of brain injury that can occur is called kernicterus. This occurs when a baby is born with jaundice (yellow skin and yellow eyes). Jaundice is caused by bilirubin in the blood and usually goes away on its own. Some babies may have problems getting rid of the bilirubin. This can be treated by doctors if they recognize it. If a baby with high levels of bilirubin is not treated, the bilirubin can get into the brain and cause damage.

Brain injuries during birth are preventable most of the time. They are often the result of mistakes or negligence on the part of doctors and attending nurses.

If your child has been born with a brain injury related to a birth injury, please contact the experienced medical negligence attorneys at Weiss & Paarz P.C. for an initial case consultation. We serve the communities in and around Philadelphia, as well as the state of New Jersey.