Birth injuries include any type of injury that is the result of being born. In Canada, birth injuries are relatively rare, occurring at a rate of 9.6 per 1,000 live births. Yet if a birth injury affects your child, it doesn’t matter what the data says – it can be a devastating diagnosis.
There are many different birth injuries, ranging from cerebral palsy (CP) to hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) to shoulder dystocia. Each of these has its own unique signs and symptoms. Understanding the more common signs of birth injuries can help you spot issues early – and get your child the help that they need.
At the Birth Injury Lawyers Alliance (BILA), we advocate for children and families who have been affected by all types of birth trauma. Reach out today to schedule a free consultation with a birth injury lawyer in your province.
Signs and Symptoms of Birth Injuries
Some signs of birth injuries are immediately obvious, such as seizures or abnormal movements. Other signs – such as developmental delays – may take months or even years to become apparent. Familiarizing yourself with these symptoms can help to ensure that your baby or child gets the treatment that they need from the appropriate medical professional.
At Birth
Immediately following an infant’s birth, a healthcare professional should administer the APGAR test, which is a standardized assessment to determine the baby’s health. It is typically performed at 1 minute after birth and again at 5 minutes after birth.
The APGAR test examines a baby’s:
- Breathing
- Heart rate
- Muscle tone
- Reflexes
- Skin color
An APGAR score can be between 1 and 10. A score of 7 – 9 is considered normal. Anything under a score of 7 indicates a need for prompt medical attention.
While medical professionals perform these tests, parents can still evaluate their baby for signs of a problem. Symptoms of a potential birth injury include:
- Seizures
- Light sensitivity
- Weak or absent reflexes
- Excessive drooling
- Arched back while crying
- Difficulty with suckling and/or swallowing
- A hand that is curled into a claw-like shape
- Muscle stiffness or looseness
- High-pitched crying or grunting
- Signs of a facial nerve injury (such as one side of the face drooping or facial paralysis)
- Skull fractures
Many of these symptoms could be a sign of a brain injury, such as cerebral palsy or birth asphyxia, which is a type of oxygen deprivation that occurs during labour and delivery. Other signs – such as a weak or limp arm – could be a sign of a brachial plexus injury or other nerve damage. If your newborn baby exhibits these or other signs of birth trauma. Be sure to discuss these symptoms and potential treatments with your baby’s healthcare provider.
At 12 to 24 Months
While some physical injuries appear immediately after birth, others may not appear until a baby is 1 to 2 years old. A toddler might miss developmental milestones or show other signs of a brain injury, nerve damage, or another type of birth trauma.
Between 12 and 24 months, you should look for signs such as:
- Speech delays or lack of speech
- Difficulty walking and/or crawling
- Inability to sit, stand, walk, or crawl without assistance
- Trouble eating and drinking, including with grasping utensils and holding a cup or bottle
- Poor muscle control
- Muscle spasms (spasticity)
- Poor balance or coordination (ataxia)
- Low muscle tone
- Vision and/or hearing problems
- Intellectual disabilities
- Unable to grasp smaller objects
- Inability to bring objects to their mouth
- Not turning their head when they hear loud noises
Many of these signs – such as muscle spasticity – are related to potential brain damage and conditions like cerebral palsy. They may also indicate another developmental disorder, such as autism. If you notice that your baby is showing any of these signs – or simply fails to hit their milestones on time – then you should talk to their pediatrician about an evaluation for a birth injury.
At 2+ Years
In some cases, birth injuries aren’t apparent until a child is older. This often occurs when a child enters preschool or elementary school. When being compared to their same-age peers, physical and/or mental delays may become more obvious.
Symptoms to watch for in older kids include:
- Muscle stiffness or looseness
- Tremors
- Difficulty with fine motor skills, such as holding a crayon or pencil
- Muscle weakness
- Inability to draw straight lines or to make a circle
- Challenges with basic tasks such as getting dressed, eating, or drinking
- Hearing, speaking, and/or vision problems (such as blindness, deafness, and/or muteness)
- Inability to speak and/or comprehend full sentences
- Difficulty with gross motor skills, including walking, running, and climbing
- A diagnosis of a developmental disorder such as autism
- Behavioral issues
- Challenges with socializing with their peers
Depending on the severity and type of birth injury involved, a child may not display noticeable symptoms until they are older. There are treatments available for many common birth injuries – even if there isn’t a cure. Consult with your child’s doctor if you have concerns about them not meeting their milestones or otherwise showing signs of a physical injury, brain damage, and/or a nerve injury.
Causes of Birth Injuries
There are many different causes of birth injuries. In some cases, something may happen while the mother is still pregnant – such as a stroke – that causes a birth injury like cerebral palsy. In other cases, an infant suffers a physical injury while exiting the birth canal, including oxygen deprivation or the improper use of forceps and/or vacuum extractors. These types of injuries – which are often preventable – can cause irreversible brain damage.
The impact of a birth injury depends on exactly what happened and the area that was affected. For example, damage to certain areas of the brain may lead to different symptoms:
- Damage to the motor cortex may cause stiff muscles, weakness on one side of the body, and/or poor fine motor skills
- Damage to the basal ganglia may cause challenges with mobility and balance, involuntary movements, and/or tremors
- Damage to the cerebellum may cause difficulty with balance, fine motor skills, and coordination.
Damage to any area of the brain during the birth process may also cause intellectual disabilities or cognitive issues.
If you believe that your child may have suffered a birth injury, then you should take them to a doctor to have them evaluated. Getting a diagnosis is often the first step to helping them achieve their full potential.
You may also consider consulting with a lawyer. Many common types of birth injuries are caused by medical negligence. If you believe that your child’s disability could have been prevented, a birth injury lawsuit may be one way that you can seek justice for them.
Get Help for Birth Injuries with BILA
Not every birth injury is caused by medical malpractice. However, improper care during pregnancy, labour and delivery, or after birth can cause birth injuries. Knowing the signs and symptoms of different birth injuries can help you get your child a prompt diagnosis and treatment.
If you believe that your baby may have suffered a birth injury, a birth injury lawyer can advise you of your legal options. For help with a potential birth injury claim, call BILA today at 1-800-300-BILA or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free initial consultation with a lawyer in your province.
