What is a Birth Injury?

Every parent’s worst fear is their child being harmed in some way.

Injuries suffered at birth are traumatic, and can, in some circumstances, be life-altering for the parents and their new child.

What is a Birth Injury?

 A Birth Injury (sometimes referred to as Birth Trauma or Neonatal Trauma) can be experienced by the mother or baby before, during or immediately after the birthing process.

The injuries may be to the child (e.g. Cerebral Palsy) or to the mother (e.g. a 4^th Degree Tear).

The impact of experiencing or witnessing a traumatic birth can have a devastating mental impact. While the initial injury may be physical, the injury itself, and the consequences of the injury, can lead to psychological injuries.

Fathers of the baby and husbands, wives and partners of the mother may also suffer psychological injuries arising from the Birth Injury, and its consequences.

Types of Birth Injury

Birth injuries vary in extremity and type. Though Birth Injury types vary, there are some that are more common than others, such as:

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a lifelong condition that can be, but is not always, caused by an injury at birth. It is believed that an inadequate supply of oxygen to the child’s brain during birth can lead to CP.

The symptoms and severity of Cerebral Palsy can vary from patient to patient. Most commonly, symptoms include muscle weakness and developmental delays.

Brachial Plexus

The most common nerve group injured at birth is the Brachial Plexus which is responsible for arm movement and feeling.

During the birthing process, this group of nerves can be damaged if the baby is pulled too hard. Severe damage can lead to paralysis. In some cases, corrective surgery is required.

Erb’s Palsy is a form of damage to the Brachial Plexus that specifically relates to the arm and shoulder.

Facial Injuries

During labour, the delivery team may decide to intervene with forceps to assist with the birth. On occasion, the use of forceps can lead to facial injuries. This might result in light bruising, however, the use of forceps can also cause nerve damage. In turn, this nerve damage can lead to facial paralysis which may or may not require surgical correction.

Fatal Injuries

Fatal Injuries do, unfortunately, sometimes occur during the birthing process. In legal terms, this too is classed as a birth injury for which a claim could be made. Stillbirths, depending on the cause, may also be classed as Birth Injuries. Maternal Death also sadly, but rarely, occurs.

For more information about Birth Injury Claims and advice see our Birth Injury Claims guide.

At Cantillons Solicitors our team have years of experience with Birth Injury Compensation Claims. If you are looking for a Birth or Medical Negligence Solicitor Ireland, please contact Cantillons Solicitors using the contact form below. Alternatively, call us on 021 4275673 or email us at info@cantillons.com for more information. Our offices are located at 39 South Mall, Cork. We do, however, represent clients from all over Ireland. Should you be unable to attend our offices, we are more than happy to travel to you, or conduct the meeting on Zoom.

* In contentious business, a Solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement. Many Personal Injury Solicitors portray themselves as “no win no fee Solicitors Cork”. This term can be misleading and it is essential that you discuss fees with the Personal Injury Solicitor you ultimately choose. At Cantillons Solicitors, we are entirely transparent.

Lyndy Cantillon

Partner

Experience

Lyndy qualified as a Solicitor in 2014 and since then has been working in the medical litigation department at Cantillons. Lyndy has worked extensively in cases involving birth injuries, cancer misdiagnosis, surgical errors and fatal claims. Lyndy works hard and as a result of this has had great success in this field. Lyndy understands the physical and mental stress her clients have been through before they come to Cantillons with their query and she encourages her clients to leave their stresses with her.

Qualifications / Assocciations

Lyndy achieved a Bachelor of Arts degree at University College Cork with a degree in Art History and Italian. Thereafter she went on to study for the FE1 entrance examinations and successfully passed all eight exams. Lyndy took an apprenticeship at Cantillons and got experience in general litigation, medical litigation, probate and commercial litigation. Lyndy qualified as a Solicitor on 2014 and has been working in the medical litigation department since then.