Long Island Birth Injuries FAQs

Nobody wants to hear that their new child has been injured. In fact, that is the worst fear for a brand-new parent. The thought alone is enough to make your heart stop. But the truth is that sometimes babies are harmed during or near the time of birth. In fact, there are many ways that a child could be injured during that crucial time in their new lives. A birth injury can be a number of things, from trauma to the head or body, contracting an infection, oxygen deprivation, and other complications that can give you nightmares.

Although a birth injury is certainly a cause for great concern, it can be handled if your child is in the right hands. A team of professional doctors can tackle any birth injury in short order and make sure your child is happy and healthy in no time at all. There is a solution for nearly every birth injury in existence. Birth injuries can be prevented or solved thanks to the advances of modern medicine.

However, if your child’s birth was handled poorly and a birth injury was the result, you are entitled to compensation. You have done nothing wrong; you have put your trust and health in the hands of someone who failed you. It is time to make that right. At Duffy & Duffy, we understand just how traumatizing and terrible the entire experience of a birth injury can be and we will do everything within our power to make it right and to grant you the respect, care, and peace of mind you and your family deserve. We have assembled an expert team of birth injury lawyers for all of Long Island. Our birth injury attorneys know every step to take and will chart a path that is right for you and your case. We have created a Birth Injuries Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) to assist you in navigating this difficult time in your life.

No matter the birth injury, or the severity, we are ready to fight for you and your rights and the future and health of your children.

What are the most common types of birth injuries?

What are the most common types of birth injuries? Typically, they range from swelling of the baby’s soft scalp tissues to bruising or lacerations of the head, to injuries to a group of nerves that control arm and head movement. Sadly, there are other common birth injuries, such as a clavicle or collarbone fracture, bleeding under the cranial bone, Cerebral Palsy caused by complications at birth, infection and more. Unfortunately, there are many injuries your baby may experience around or during birth.

Signs of a birth injury in your child?

The signs will make themselves presents if your child begins to miss key development milestones in his or her early years. Perhaps your child is experiencing motor impairments, seizures, learning disabilities, speech-language disorders, or vision and hearing problems.

However, you may also notice signs of a birth injury directly after delivery too, such as pale or blue skin, ultra-slow breathing, sluggish or lethargic attitude, odd movements in the body, and a lack of interest in eating. These are some of the most common signs of a serious birth injury. If you notice any of these, it is pivotal that you contact your doctor immediately and seek medical care for your child as soon as possible.

Why do Birth Injuries occur?

Why do birth injuries occur? Typically, they are caused by some sort of trauma at the time of delivery. It isn’t easy to be born. It is an intense procedure for the mother, the baby, and even the doctors. Accidents can occur and these can lead to a birth injury. The most common factors that lead to these horrible problems are usually forces like pressure or torsion on the baby during birth. This happens during a particularly difficult delivery that gets very physical and strenuous. There are other times when a baby is stuck during delivery in the birth canal due to a size mismatch between the baby’s head and the mother’s pelvis. When this happens, a situation can arise that can lead to serious birth injuries. If a doctor or his or her team misuse the vacuum extractors or forceps devices that are commonly employed during birth, there is another chance for injury. A prolonged period of arrested labor is another way that birth injuries often occur. The contractions of labor place pressure on the baby’s head and this is one of the ways that most injuries are caused.

Are all birth injuries during the time of delivery?

Iit isn’t just events that happen at the time of delivery that can result in a birth injury. For example, if the child is not handled properly in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), birth injuries can spawn from that. The NICU is not just a place for your baby to sleep. Your child needs to be properly fed and monitored. If that does not happen, a birth injury is likely.

Additionally, improper prenatal care can lead to an injury at birth. Any doctor should be prescribing regular and frequent ultrasounds and other testing to make sure the child is developing properly and healthily. These tests will make sure there is nothing that needs to be addressed before birth. If the doctor does not do his or her job, any number of injuries can occur.

Can Infections Cause Birth Injuries?

Birth injuries may be caused by infections that can be identified before birth. There are many different tests that doctors can perform that will seek out and determine if an infection is occurring. A professional doctor should be able to spot these long before birth and should have a treatment plan prepared to address any issues.

What Other Ways Can Birth Injuries Occur?

As you can see, there are many ways that make birth injuries possible and even probable. Other things such as prematurity of birth and abnormal fetal presentation are contributing factors as well. Since there are so many ways that a birth injury can happen, it is very important that when they do occur, they are addressed immediately. If not, it is very important that the doctors are held accountable, and your family is given the respect they deserve. That is exactly what we are always seeking at Duffy & Duffy.

The very thought of a birth injury occurring is downright terrifying and is the last thing a new parent wants to worry about. But when they happen, they need to be taken care of. A birth injury isn’t just solved solely by a team of doctors. You and your family need a professional and expert team of lawyers to handle your birth injury lawsuit and assist with any problems caused by these traumatic injuries. At Duffy & Duffy, we will fight for you. That is what you and your child and your entire family deserve.

Let us handle your birth injury problems and bring you the care that you need. Call Duffy & Duffy today at (516) 394-4200 or visit us online to set up your free consultation and take the next steps in the fight for your family.