Were You or Your Baby Harmed by a Tennessee Forceps Delivery?

We all wish for a quick, efficient, uncomplicated delivery on that special day our new babies enter the world. And most of the time, this is exactly what happens; proud parents and relatives quickly spread the word about the weight and length of the child. In a day or two mother and baby are home together, getting used to the changes in their lives and the lives of those who love them.

Sadly, not everyone experiences this rosy picture. Birth injuries do happen and some of them seem so needless. This can be exactly the case when forceps are used to assist in the delivery.

Facts About Forceps

While they may look like medieval instruments of torture, forceps are still used in delivery rooms across the United States and the world.

There are many different models of forceps manufactured today, but they all have in common the twin “blades” that grasp the infant’s head. These blades end in handles that the person using them grasps.

Only about five percent of all vaginal deliveries involve the use of mechanical devices and most of these are vacuum deliveries. Forceps are only used in about one percent, or one in a hundred, of all deliveries. However, when they are used, things can go horribly wrong.

Complications in Forceps Deliveries

The complications arising from the use of forceps in assisting childbirth can affect both the mother and the baby.

Dangers to the mother include:

• Forceps deliveries increase the risk of lacerations and bleeding.
• The use of forceps increases the risk of perineal tears.
• The pelvic support tissues can be damaged, and nerve damage can also occur in the mother.
• There is also an increased risk of incontinence and damage to the rectal sphincter.

A forceps-delivered baby:

• Is 17% more likely to show forceps marks and facial bruising.
• May be the victim of permanent facial and/or spinal cord nerve injuries.
• May suffer skull fractures and/or intracranial bleeding.
• Is more likely to develop cerebral palsy.

While the chances of these outcomes are small, Tennessee birth injuries can and do happen. And when they do, the parents must make sure they understand what caused the injury and whether it might have been avoided.

At Bailey and Greer in Memphis, we represent the families and children who are harmed by birth injuries. As Tennessee birth injury experts, we know the pain and difficulty these injuries can cause. If you have any questions, call us toll free today at 901-680-9777 for a free consultation.