Recognizing Birth Trauma Symptoms: A Guide for Parents

Welcoming a baby should be a great moment, like finally reaching the finish line after a long, exhausting race. What if, however, instead of celebration, something feels off? Maybe your baby is struggling to move, isn’t feeling well, or cries in a way that doesn’t seem right.

These could be signs of birth trauma symptoms from injuries that happen during labour or delivery.

Some birth trauma symptoms are obvious right away, while others take weeks or months to appear. Recognizing them early can make a big difference in getting your child the right care.

In this guide, we will cover the symptoms of birth trauma, why timely medical help matters, and when legal action might be needed if medical negligence played a role.

What is birth trauma?

Birth trauma refers to injuries that happen to a baby during labour or delivery. These injuries can range from mild bruising to severe nerve or brain damage. In some cases, mothers can also experience physical or emotional trauma from a difficult birth.

For infants, birth trauma symptoms can include trouble moving a limb, difficulty breathing, or excessive fussiness. Some symptoms of birth trauma appear immediately, while others take weeks or months to show.

Common causes of birth trauma include prolonged labour, improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors, and lack of oxygen during delivery. Sometimes, these complications are unavoidable.

However, in cases where a doctor, nurse, or hospital makes a mistake, such as failing to monitor distress or using excessive force, it may be considered medical negligence.

Physical Symptoms of Birth Trauma in Infants

As previously noted, certain birth trauma symptoms are easy to spot, while others take time to appear. Thus, paying close attention to your baby’s health in the first few days and weeks can help catch any issues early.

One of the most common signs of birth trauma is limited movement in the arms or legs, which may point to nerve damage like brachial plexus injuries. If your baby keeps one arm limp or doesn’t move a leg much, it could be a red flag.

Difficulty breathing or low Apgar scores (the test doctors used to check a newborn’s health) can also signal trouble. Babies who struggle to breathe after birth may have suffered oxygen deprivation, which can lead to serious complications.

Visible injuries like skull fractures or swelling around the head could indicate that excessive force was used during delivery, especially if forceps or vacuum extractors were involved.

More alarming symptoms of birth trauma include seizures or twitching, which may suggest brain damage from lack of oxygen or head trauma. These signs of birth trauma should never be ignored, as early medical attention can give your baby the best possible care.

Behavioural Symptoms of Birth Trauma in Infants

As parents, you may notice behavioural changes as your baby grows. If something feels off, it’s important to trust your instinct and speak with a doctor.

• Excessive crying or difficulty soothing is a common sign of birth trauma. While all babies cry, those with birth injuries may cry non-stop or seem unusually irritable. This could be due to nerve pain, discomfort, or even brain injury.
• Feeding difficulties, such as trouble latching, weak sucking, or frequent choking, can be linked to birth trauma symptoms. These issues may also point to nerve damage affecting muscle control or coordination.
• Another red flag is unusual muscle stiffness or floppiness. If a baby’s body seems too rigid or too weak, it could indicate conditions like cerebral palsy, which is mostly linked to oxygen deprivation during birth.
• As months pass, parents may notice delayed developmental milestones, such as struggling to lift the head, roll over, or grasp objects. These birth trauma symptoms could be a signal of the effect of neurological issues caused by brain injury.

Identifying these symptoms of birth trauma in time can open the door to therapies and interventions that improve a child’s quality of life.

Why Early Medical Intervention Is Critical

Timely diagnosis and therapy can manage birth trauma symptoms and improve a child’s long-term health.

Pediatricians monitor a baby’s growth and identify potential concerns, while neurologists assess neurological functions and recommend treatments.

Therapists, including physical and occupational specialists, also help address developmental delays and improve mobility.

The combined expertise of these medical professionals ensures that affected infants receive detailed care that suits the symptoms shown.

Parents should always trust their instincts and seek medical intervention when something feels off.

When to Seek Legal Help for Birth Trauma

If a doctor uses forceps incorrectly, delays a C-section, or makes other errors, it could lead to serious complications for your baby. When that happens, legal help might be the best way to get justice and support.

Many parents worry about taking legal action due to its complexities, but you don’t have to go through the process alone. Speaking with a birth injury lawyer can help you understand your options.

Consultation doesn’t necessarily mean you are suing; it just enables you to look out for your child’s future when birth trauma symptoms are evident.

When Medical Mistakes Change a Life, You Deserve Justice

Let’s keep it simple: if your child’s injury was preventable, you deserve answers and justice.

For over 40 years, Sommers Roth & Elmaleh has been a leading law firm in Canada, specializing in birth trauma cases. We have a long list of successful cases where we have won life-changing compensation for families.

Our victories include more than $9 million for a child whose birth injury was caused by a nurse inappropriately rupturing membranes and failing to monitor fetal heart rate, and $8 million awarded at trial to a quadriplegic boy injured due to forceps misuse.

These are not just numbers; they represent real families whose lives have been transformed by the justice they deserved.

We stand out as one of the best birth injury law firms because of our deep expertise and access to top medical professionals who help us uncover the truth behind symptoms of birth trauma.

We are equipped with compassionate birth injury lawyers and have strong connections with medical professionals who understand what it feels like to hear devastating news about a newborn child and the urge to find answers.

Remember, you pay us nothing unless we win! Call Sommers Roth & Elmaleh today at 1-844-940-2386, or contact us online for a free consultation, and let’s discuss how we can help you secure your child’s future.