Birth Injury and Your Family: How to Survive The Trauma

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Waiting for the arrival of your newborn is one of the most exciting times in a parent’s life. You’ll even spend a significant amount of time preparing for the baby’s arrival by decorating the room and purchasing the crib and other necessities. When it’s time for your child to be born, you don’t expect there to be complications. However, there are over 30,000 newborns that become injured during the birthing process each year.

What is a Birth Injury?

A birthing injury is something that occurs during delivery. Some examples include problems suffered during the baby’s passing through the canal, injuries caused by prolonged hours in labor, breech delivery and flaws in the medical staff or hospital. Some injuries heal quickly, and the infant and family hardly notice any lingering difficulties. Whether it’s a Los Angeles patients advocate or a birth injury attorney in New York, they will both suggest that other birth injury problems can be longer lasting and sometimes permanent. Brachial palsy, facial paralysis, fractures and brain injuries are some of the outcomes of a birth injury.

The Effects of Birth Injuries on a Family

There is an excessive amount of time and care that goes into helping a child with a birth injury. This can place a strain on the entire family both mentally, physically and financially. Parents and other family members may have feelings of anger, stress and hopelessness. The day-to-day struggles in caring for a child with a permanent birth injury can be exhausting, and you may need help in learning how to deal with these changes.

The affects can even reach as far as the siblings of the child with the defect. Because the parents are spending extra time with the child who has the birth injury, siblings may feel neglected and act out. They may also find themselves ridiculed at school for having a sibling who is challenged. This can also put a strain on a couple, and their future relationship.

Coping with the Challenges

All of this can be overwhelming, and you may be looking for ways to strengthen your family bonds. Support groups for families affected by a birth injury can be extremely helpful for all parties. Parents who have experience with this sort of problem can offer solutions and advice on how to deal with difficult situations. It also helps to know that you aren’t alone, and you have a comfortable place to turn to.

You should also seek help and assistance from friends and family. This is a great way to make time for your other children and give them the necessary attention that they deserve through fun activities and sporting events at school. Couples should also spend time together and schedule an overnight getaway or evening out.

A birth injury caused by a medical treatment facility or staff member can cripple a family financially and is a life altering event for everyone involved. You may be able to receive some type of monetary compensation for their negligence which can help you with the future care of your child. However, knowing how to cope and reaching out to others can also help you through this traumatic experience and give you the strength to move forward.

Freelance writer Nadine Swayne forwards this article to help families struggling with the devastation of a child who suffered a birth injury. You can find a birth injury attorney in New York at The Perecman Firm, P.L.L.C. that will help you and your family with your case.  They have decades of experience to help ensure that you and your loved ones receive the financial compensation deserved.

19 Comments

  1. My first son had a few minor issues when he was born, it is hard as a parent when you are expecting to deliver a child and hold them but instead your child is ripped away because they are not breathing and need help. The first I got to see my son was in pictures that the staff took to bring me. Luckily he is perfect and was over monitored after the delivery (not that I minded). I appreciated the extra care that the hospital gave him.

    1. Childbirth is amazing how it can be the happiest & scariest time in life. My nephew was also born with breathing problems and we were all holding our breath till he was cleared and now, just fine. I’m glad this info helps and glad for your sons outcome Jennifer!

  2. It can be so very hard to prove birth injury since many hospitals will not let you film the birth and there is a code of not speaking badly about others on staff, so unless someone stands up for you, you may have no recourse.

    1. Author

      My brother spent years but was able to win a case against the hospital and doctor when my nephew was born. They actually had a nurse that spoke up and told the truth, and still took years. My nephew is 22 with severe cerebral palsy. He can’t speak, walk, feed himself, and wears diapers. His mother left long before the case was won, but my brother who was only 21 at the time my nephew was born, did what needed to be done and raised him on his own. It’s been tough for him, but I’m very proud of my brother.

  3. I’ve been so fortunate that my daughter has never had any serious injuries, I can’t imagine how families deal with them right off the bat!

  4. wow, I can’t imagine going through this and I hope it gets easier for families to get some sort of restitution. Your brother sounds like an amazing man Donna.

  5. This is so scary. I feel fortunate that both of my kids had not trauma from birth.

  6. I can’t imagine having to go thru something like that. I have known a few people who had to go thru this. I did have some scares during labor that lead to a c-section but our son turned out fine. Its so so scary and can be soo life changing.

    Heather from Mommy Only Has 2 Hands

  7. A cousin of mine lost his vision because the doctor caused serious damage when he used that tool (forceps?) to get him out…he is now 45 and blind.

  8. So scary. I probably shouldn’t have read this post since I’m pregnant and it has got me paranoid. :\

  9. Thanks for this post. As a labor doula, I see that birth injury is more than just physical trauma. I’ve had many clients, in my time as a doula, who have suffered from their own type of birth injuries that were more emotional due to having to having a birth experience that they did not want and were not prepared to handle emotionally, like emergency sections, birth rape (doctors performing interventions that are not welcomed), etc. Sadly, these aren’t considered negligence. They only healing that comes from emotional birth injuries are usually a subsequent healing birth.

    Either way, you’re right. It does take it’s toll on the family as well as the mom!

  10. This is an issue not too many think about until it happens to them. Thanks for sharing this information.

  11. Wow, I didn’t realize so many babies were injured during birth, over 30,000!!

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