The 411 on Brain Injuries & Birth Trauma Cases in Tennessee

By Thomas Greer | March 24, 2014

Brain injuries have been a hot topic in health news for some time now, in part because of the large amount of soldiers who suffer traumatic brain injuries (TBI) while they serve their country. Football players have also made headlines with brain injury news, as research continues to explore the connection between one of America’s favorite sports and traumatic brain injuries to players of all ages. There is also another very important group of people who are at risk for brain injuries which does not get as much press – newborn babies.

Brain injuries can occur during labor and delivery, and the results can be devastating. While brain trauma during birth is rare, it is essential that parents know that when it does occur, it is usually the result of medical negligence.

Some brain injuries that happen while a mother is giving birth to her baby result from oxygen deprivation. The improper use of the labor-inducing drug Pitocin is one way that oxygen supply to a baby’s brain can be restricted during labor and delivery. Sometimes, too much Pitocin is administered by the medical professionals who are assisting the mother with her birth. When this happens, contractions can occur too rapidly for the placenta to replenish its oxygen supply between them. Decreased oxygen in the placenta leads to a drop in the baby’s oxygen levels. If oxygen levels remain low for too long, brain damage can occur. Fortunately, if medical staff realize that contractions are less than two minutes apart and take swift action to stop the Pitocin, contractions can occur less frequently and the oxygen supply in the placenta and to the baby can return to a proper level. Another way that a baby can suffer a brain injury from reduced oxygen flow is if doctors fail to perform a cesarean birth when circumstances indicate a need to do so, or if they wait too long to perform the C-section when there are signs of danger.

Other brain injuries that occur during labor and delivery result from trauma. During a birth, many forces exert themselves on the baby. Some of these are the natural forces of the mother’s body as she moves through the process of giving birth. Other forces are applied by medical personnel, such as forceps and vacuum extractors. If vacuum extractors and forceps are used correctly and in appropriate situations, trauma is relatively uncommon. When trauma does occur, it may take the form of a brain bleed, skull fracture, contusions, or tearing of the brain tissue.

Brain injuries suffered during birth can be problematic on their own. They can also contribute to the development of other medical conditions like cerebral palsy and seizures. If your baby has suffered a brain injury, it is important to find out as much as you can about what happened during the birth and why. It is possible that doctors and hospital staff may have caused or contributed to your baby’s brain injury, and you may be able to recover the costs associated with caring for your child’s injuries.

If your baby suffered a brain injury during labor and delivery, you may have many questions. The experienced Tennessee birth injury attorneys at Bailey & Greer, PLLC will sit down with you to learn about your case, answer your questions, explain your options, and help you decide how to proceed. Caring for a child with a brain injury can be costly and stressful. We can help you to pursue the recovery that you deserve so that you can focus on giving your child the care that they need. To learn more, call us at 901-680-9777 to schedule a time to discuss your case.  At Bailey & Greer, PLLC, we are small enough to care, big enough to fight, and experienced enough to win.

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