Typically, doctors and other medical practitioners in the delivery room will make use of birth assistance tools, such as forceps and vacuum pumps, to handle a difficult delivery process. This method is commonly known as operative vaginal delivery.
Unlike other types of delivery methods, this procedure of using birth assistance tools comes with higher risk of birth injuries. This is especially true in situations wherein the doctors make mistakes in using forceps to facilitate childbirth.
In simple terms, forceps are medical instruments that can be used to facilitate a difficult natural delivery. They’re usually used for gripping the baby’s head and pulling it out of the birth canal.
Thus, if you think your baby is injured during childbirth, below are the three common forceps birth injuries you should be aware of:
Brain Damage
Again, forceps are used for a variety of reasons and are generally safe for children. But, you should always be on the lookout for problems when they occur during child delivery as using this tool can cause mild to serious forceps birth injuries. Generally, it’s not unusual for forceps to be used to help remove excess skin, such as the fat that tends to form around the ear, and this is one of the causes of brain damage from this type of delivery method.
In addition, there are several other ways that this procedure can damage the brain, including the fact that the baby is often kept in the delivery room overnight, and this can actually result in some of the extra blood draining into the brain itself. In some cases, blood vessels might get so clogged due to the excess fluid that it causes them to collapse.
So, if you suspect that your child is suffering from this type forceps birth injury, you should immediately contact your pediatrician and find out the necessary steps you should take.
Skull Fractures
Skull fractures in babies caused by the use of forceps during delivery are quite common. This is due to the fact that most children are delivered via forceps, which means that the delivery process uses force to make the child’s head turn at the right angle to ensure proper delivery. However, this is often not a good method for delivering the child because it causes the head to be twisted, which may result in skull fracture.
If you suspect that your child is suffering from birth injury bone fractures, particularly in the skull, due to forceps child delivery, you should seek medical treatment as soon as possible. If the fracture heals on its own or doesn’t require medical attention, the fracture might recur. Also, in the event this injury may have a long-term effect on your child’s life, it’s best to consult a lawyer to know the legal options available to you.
Eye Trauma
Eye trauma caused by forceps delivery is very common. The pressure of such a tool can cause an injury in the cornea, iris, or eyelid membrane. Forceps can also cause injury in the eyelid, cheeks, or nostril. The eyelid can become irritated and inflamed after forceps delivery. This results in corneal edema, which leads pain and vision loss.
Also, when your child suffers from eye trauma, they might feel irritation around the eyelid, and even pain under the upper eyelid and inside the lower eyelid. Not only that, but a wound infection is also a possibility.
Pain is another symptom that can be caused by the forceps. In most cases, the pain is located inside the eyelid and it will go away after some time. Your baby will also experience dryness of the eyes. There are times when the pain is located in the eye, which can be quite severe. When this happens, it’s better to consult your doctor immediately. They might prescribe some medications for your baby so that you can avoid the said issues.
Conclusion
Many people don’t realize that in addition to the pain that can stem from birth injuries, there’s also the risk of infection. This can be especially serious in babies who’ve suffered severe injuries from a surgical procedure. Although you might feel as though you can handle minor injuries, this isn’t always the case.
Therefore, if your baby experiences any of the birth injuries mentioned above, you should consider finding the right attorney who can help you recover compensation from the at-fault party. Usually, most medical malpractice cases that result in birth injuries require the assistance of a legal professional to ensure your child’s rights are protected from start to finish.
