When families contact our office the two common birth injuries that they are calling about are generally the traumatic brain injury HIE, or hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, or an injury from a shoulder dystocia medical condition. Although we do get some calls regarding shoulder dystocia, the overwhelming majority of calls we receive regarding a birth injury are HIE injuries, which we will discuss in more detail below.

 

As for shoulder dystocia, this condition creates an emergency in the delivery room because it deals with a baby becoming stuck, or trapped behind the mother’s pelvis. Typically when shoulder dystocia is present, injuries to the brachial plexus nerves in the shoulder are often reported. A baby who has suffered a shoulder dystocia injury can have injury to the shoulder, the arm, and/or to the hand. Any of the previous listed injures can be associated with shoulder dystocia and for some baby’s these injuries may also accompany an HIE brain injury.

 

Two Common Birth Injuries

 

Because HIE injuries are the bulk of the birth injury calls we receive to our office, we will discuss in more detail an HIE injury. An HIE injury is a traumatic brain injury and for us, many of our traumatic brain injuries at birth are caused by oxygen deprivation. In its basic sense, HIE is a reduction in oxygenated blood which can lead to a brain injury.

 

There can be many causes of a baby having a reduction in blood and oxygen and the reduction can happen at any time. For example, the oxygen deprivation can occur during pregnancy or during labor and delivery. Below are a few medical conditions which can lead to oxygen deprivation:

 

  • Uterine Rupture
  • Placental Abruption
  • Umbilical Cord Prolapse
  • Nuchal Cord

 

The above medical conditions are just some of the ways in which a baby can suffer from a reduction in blood and oxygen. Umbilical cord compression is also one way in which there can be a reduction in blood and oxygen for a baby.

 

Finally, genetic issues and developmental issues can also impact a baby’s blood and oxygen flow. When the cause of the oxygen deprivation and HIE injury is due to genetics and/or developmental challenges, asserting fault to the doctors and other medical professionals is more of a challenge because their action, or in-action, is generally not the cause of the injury.

 

Birth injury attorneys, like us here at Boston Law Group, LLC are familiar with the issues surrounding the birth injury HIE and are available to answer an questions that you may have surrounding your baby’s injury. You can reach us at our contact information below, or dial 301-850-4832 from your cellphone if you are reading this article from your mobile device.

 

Marcus B. Boston, Esq.

Boston Law Group, LLC

9701 Apollo Dr. Suite 100

Largo, Maryland 20774

bostonlawllc.com

301-850-4832

1-833-4 BABY HELP

 

 
Marcus Boston is a Maryland medical malpractice attorney who helps people navigate the Maryland childbirth injury and medical malpractice process to get money for their injuries caused by the carelessness of doctors and hospitals. BLG handles cases in Prince George’s County, Baltimore City, Montgomery County, Howard County, Anne Arundel County, and all other Maryland Counties. blgesq.com