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How are Birth Injuries Caused?

The natural contractions and contortions that come with childbirth can be hard on a small infant, and the potential for a birth injury is always there. Natural birth injury factors such as pelvic irregularities, an abnormally large fetus, or prematurity can increase the chances of trauma during childbirth.

However, in some circumstances, it is revealed that some form of medical negligence, or malpractice, occurred during labor and delivery which may have caused the birth injury. Acts of medical negligence may involve the improper use of delivery aids such as forceps or vacuum extraction.

Other birth injury factors may be exposure to dangerous workplace chemicals or prescription drugs such as SSRI’s , taken by the mother before or during pregnancy.

When a newborn suffers a birth injury in the process of labor and delivery, parents are often left shocked and confused thinking, "What caused this birth injury?"

Factors that May Cause Birth Injuries & Birth Defects 

All too often, birth injuries ranging from simple bruises and fractures to devastating brain damage occurs during . Although delivering the baby by cesarean-section (c-section) may help reduce the risk for certain types of birth injuries, there is no guarantee that the delivery will be completely free of trauma.

The following are just some of the potential causes of birth injury:

• Medical negligence or malpractice: A birth injury can sometimes be caused by carelessness or negligence on the part of the physician and other providers that care for a woman during her pregnancy, labor, and delivery.
• Workplace Chemical Exposure: The exposure to certain dangerous workplace chemicals may cause serious birth defects suffered by a developing fetus in a mother's womb.
• Dangerous Drugs: Birth injuries may sometimes be caused by a particular prescription drug, such as SSRI’s, or other medication taken by the mother before or during pregnancy.
• First delivery (primigravida): A mother's first delivery is generally more prolonged-and therefore more risky-than subsequent deliveries.
• Large fetal head: If the baby's head is too large, it may not be able to pass through the birth canal. This condition can lead to a decreased supply of oxygen and cause a birth injury.
• Small maternal pelvis or pelvic irregularities: The size and shape of the mother's pelvis may not accommodate a vaginal birth.
• Shoulder dystocia: Shoulder dystocia occurs when the baby's head has emerged but the shoulders are stuck behind the mother's pubic bone or the opening to the birth canal and cannot be delivered. It may lead to various types of birth injuries, including Erb's palsy, fractures, or paralysis.
• Abnormal presentation: A breech delivery, in which the baby's legs or bottom emerge first. An abnormal presentation can frequently lead to birth injuries.
• Use of forceps or vacuum extraction to hasten or facilitate vaginal delivery: If these instruments are applied improperly or with too much force, cuts, severe bruising and swelling of the baby's head or face or facial paralysis may result.
• Lack of sufficient oxygen: Some of the most debilitating birth injuries occur when a traumatic birth results in a low supply of oxygen to the baby's brain.
• Prematurity: Babies born before 37 weeks' gestation are more fragile than full-term babies and therefore more vulnerable to birth injuries. Premature babies are among the most likely to suffer hemorrhage in or around the brain.
• Use of monitoring equipment: Sensors attached to an infant's head can cause birth injuries such as scalp trauma and hemorrhaging
• Low birth weight: Like babies born prematurely, low-birth-weight babies may be injured more easily than those of normal weight.
• Excessive birth weight: Babies over 8 pounds, 13 ounces may be too large for a vaginal birth. Attempting vaginal delivery with a baby this size or larger can lead to birth injuries.

Find more about the causes of birth injuries.