Eye-Opening Look at Excessive Force and Tennessee Birth Injuries

By Thomas Greer | January 25, 2015

There is no greater joy than the birth of a new baby. And there is no greater fear than when something goes wrong during the birthing process. Certainly there is nothing more upsetting than knowing a Tennessee birth injury could have been avoided.

One cause of birth injuries, particularly a brachial plexus injury, is the use of excessive force during the birthing process. While most of us assume the best decisions will be made in the delivery room, this is not always the case. How does this happen?

Let’s take a look at some of the facts about brachial plexus:

  • A brachial plexus injury occurs when the baby’s neck is stretched sideways during birth. This stretching can cause permanent nerve damage to the muscles that control the feeling and movement of the shoulder, arm, hand and fingers.
  • A brachial plexus injury most often happens when the baby’s shoulder becomes “stuck”, usually restricted by the mother’s pelvic bone. This is called shoulder dystocia.
  • Brachial plexus injury occurs in about one or two of every 10,000 births in the United States.
  • Brachial plexus injuries can range from a temporary paralysis to a permanent loss of full function.

When a shoulder dystocia occurs, delivery room personnel are supposed to be trained to use the safest methods possible to free the trapped shoulder. But this does not always happen. Instead:

  • Traction may be used as the doctor or midwife pulls the baby, usually by the head, in a downward and outward direction.
  • This pulling can be done too forcefully, causing nerve injury.
  • A vacuum extractor and/or forceps may be used when the baby is descending slowly or dilation is slow. The use of either one interferes with the delivery process and can cause a shoulder dystocia. They can also exert excessive force on the baby.

You should speak to a Memphis birth injury attorney immediately if you have any suspicions that excessive force was used to deliver your baby and injury occurred. At Bailey & Greer, we offer caring compassionate representation to parents and their babies.

Call today toll-free at 901-680-9777 to discuss your options. Or, simply fill out the confidential form on this page, and we will contact you.

Posted in Birth Injuries, Library