Your medical care team is there to help you through delivery, looking out for both your well-being and the well-being of your child. However, birth injuries can happen even when you think your medical providers are doing everything right. The sooner you can catch those injuries, the easier it will be to get your child the treatment they need and the easier it will be to hold your medical care team accountable for their actions. But to catch those injuries, you need to know which signs to look for. Here’s what your Pennsylvania birth injury attorney wants you to watch for as your child grows.
Symptoms to Watch for Immediately After Birth
Many birth injuries result in symptoms that are visible and identifiable immediately after your child is born. Though many medical care providers will be able to identify the signs and symptoms immediately, it’s still a good idea to know what to watch for yourself. Here are some key symptoms to look for in the days immediately following your child’s birth.
- Inability to eat: Some birth injuries can make it difficult or impossible for your child to nurse or eat. Watch for signs of decreased appetite or refusal to latch on and report those signs immediately.
- Partial facial paralysis: Facial nerve injuries can cause one side of your child’s face to droop or not move. If you notice a lack of movement or expression when your child cries or moves their jaw or eyes, let your doctor know.
- Increased fussiness: If your child seemingly won’t stop crying or gets fussy when you move them, this could be a sign of a birth injury. Let your doctor know and be willing to press the issue. Some doctors may dismiss these concerns and you may need to advocate for a closer medical inspection of your child’s condition.
Keep in mind that this is far from an exhaustive list. If you think something is wrong, let your doctor know. Listen to your gut and seek help if you believe your child may have a birth injury.
Symptoms to Watch for Over the First Few Months
Some birth injuries may not be immediately apparent. This is why it’s important to watch for symptoms as your child grows and develops over the first year. Some of these symptoms include but are not limited to the following:
- Decrease in movement: If your child starts to lose motility, it could be a sign of a birth injury interfering with their development. For example, if your child used to wave their arms but stops doing so or started crawling but has stopped, it’s time to seek medical attention.
- Stiffness or looseness in limbs: If your child is stiff or their limbs are floppy, it could be a sign of a birth injury. As your child grows, watch for changes in their musculature and seek medical care immediately if they seem overly stiff or overly loose.
- Poor coordination: As your child gets older they should start to develop fine motor skills and improve their coordination. If they seem to have plateaued or haven’t developed age-appropriate coordination, it could be a sign of a birth injury.
- Inability to speak: Children may struggle with speech for many reasons within the first year and beyond, but if your child has trouble pronouncing words or can’t make vocalizations, it could be indicative of a birth injury. Speak with your child’s pediatrician to understand the proper timeframe.
Schedule a PA Birth Injury Consultation Today
Birth injuries can result in life-long challenges. But if those injuries resulted from your medical care team’s lack of care, you may be able to hold them accountable. Schedule a consultation with a Pennsylvania birth injury attorney at Latona Law today to discuss your options.