No parent wants to hear that their child has suffered a birth injury. While some birth injuries resolve themselves over a few days, others are more serious in nature and require an extensive recovery period. Broken bones, dislocated shoulders, lacerations and head trauma can affect an infant for quite some time.
While the focus is on the child during this time, the mother often gets overlooked. The birth injuries often affect her in many ways. If the labor and delivery was especially difficult, she may be suffering from injuries and severe pain as well. She may also be dealing with mental and emotional issues caused by the traumatic birth and her baby’s subsequent injuries.
Possible Physical Injuries to the Mother
Even during a normal birth, a mother could suffer serious injuries. The highest risk of injuries occurs during a vaginal birth with instruments. However, the risk of injuries during a C-section increases with the mother’s age. The most common injuries to mothers are perineal tears, pelvic fractures and pelvic floor muscle damage. Uterine bleeding and incontinence are also common, as are back injuries and organ damage.
Sometimes a natural delivery is not possible. A C-section may be needed and injuries can occur during this procedure as well. While C-sections are the most commonly performed surgery, bladder damage is quite common. This can lead to urinary tract infections, fistulas and other issues.
Many women think these injuries are just part of childbirth, but they’re not. They could signal a more serious condition and should be examined by a doctor immediately. With women focused on the health of their new baby—which is particularly the case after a baby has suffered birth injuries—or too embarrassed to see a doctor, they’re not getting the medical attention they need, causing their injuries to worsen.
Possible Mental/Emotional Injuries to the Mother
A traumatic childbirth can lead to psychological problems for the mother. Postpartum depression is common, with as many as 30 percent of women who have recently given birth suffering from psychological birth trauma. Common symptoms are depression, anxiety and feeling out of control.
Psychological birth trauma has many long-term effects. It reduces the lactation period, hurts relationships and causes the children to have emotional and behavioral disorders.Many women reject their newborn child. They are unable to bond with them and decide not to have any more children due to their traumatic experience with childbirth. Many women see their marriages suffer because of their refusal to engage in sexual relationships with their spouses.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in Miami, Florida
An infant’s birth injury can affect not only the infant, but the mother, father and other family members as well. The pain and suffering from such a traumatic birth can affect a family for weeks, months and even years.
If your child was injured during birth, you’re likely suffering as well. Act quickly to receive the compensation you need for damages. Seek legal help from the Miami personal injury lawyers at Dolan Dobrinsky Rosenblum Bluestein, LLP. To learn more, call us today at (305) 371-2692 or visit us online.