It happens often in Bexar County: A mother give birth to a healthy baby, and soon mom, dad and baby are on their way home to begin their new lives together. Sometimes, however, something goes wrong, and the health of the baby is negatively impacted. This can happen due to the negligence of a medical professional, among other causes. This blog post will discuss an all-too-common birth injury that can have severe effects: Erb’s palsy.
Erb’s palsy can result when a baby suffers injury to a group of nerves that connects the arm and hands to the spinal cord. These nerves are called the brachial plexus, and they may be damaged during the childbirth process if the person doing the delivery does not follow the correct procedure. The baby may experience limpness or paralysis in the arm and a loss of sensation in their fingers and hands. This injury will usually require expensive medical treatment to treat. Sometimes permanent injury will result from an injured brachial plexus.
Medical professionals are expected to know the warning signs that indicate precautions against Erb’s palsy must be taken. If the baby is larger than average in utero, the medical professional is expected to take steps to prevent Erb’s palsy. These steps can include avoiding the use of excessive pressure on the baby’s head or neck during delivery. It can also include ordering a Caesarian section to be performed.
Medical bills resulting from a diagnosis of Erb’s palsy can be quite high, and there are even more expenses if the baby is diagnosed with permanent disability. People whose baby has had this unfortunate experience should consider meeting with a legal professional.
