Birth Injury Symptoms

Generally, most birth injuries come about as a result of trauma while the baby is still in the womb or during childbirth. If these injuries are not treated, they can be extremely serious and permanent in nature. A child can be left with permanent brain damage, paralysis or other medical problems. It’s important to know the symptoms of birth injuries.

Immediate Birth Injury Symptoms
Some symptoms of birth injury are immediately obvious. At the same time, some of these can signify many other medical conditions as well. The following are immediate birth injury symptoms:

• Arched back, especially during crying
• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty eating, sucking and swallowing
• Extreme drooling
• Extreme fussiness for no obvious reason
• Grunting or high-pitched crying
• Lethargy
• Nausea and vomiting
• Seizures
• Sensitivity to light

Symptoms of Birth Injuries That Appear Later
Some birth injury symptoms will not present themselves until later. Usually, these will show when the child is between 12 and 24 months old. Later birth injury symptoms include the following:

• Ataxia, which involves losing the ability to fully move certain body parts
• Delays in the development of motor skills
• Difficulty performing basic tasks like holding utensils to eat, potty training and dressing
• Difficulty with problem-solving
• Difficulty walking normally
• Intellectual disabilities
• Involuntary neck movements
• Lack of muscle control
• Poor coordination control
• Speech difficulties

Developmental Issues When Other Children Normally Reach Milestones
Babies who suffer birth injuries are known to have development issues at times when unaffected children normally reach certain milestones. It’s helpful to know what these milestones are and how old a child normally is when they would reach them.

From 2 to 4 months of age, babies normally reach the following milestones:

• Ability to reach and grasp objects
• Coos and smiles
• Hold up their head
• Pushes up on elbows when on their stomach
• Turns head when hearing noises
• Visually follows and recognizes people

Children between 6 and 9 months old normally reach the following milestones:

• Begins to crawl
• Brings weight down on legs while standing with assistance
• Can bounce while standing with assistance
• Can pick up small objects
• Can pass objects from hand to hand
• Looks around at objects
• Rolls over from front to back and vice-versa
• Sits alone without help
• Understands words and sounds

At 1 year old, children normally reach the following milestones:

• Can walk on their own or while holding onto furniture
• Explore and locate hidden objects
• Start to say words
• Understands simple instructions

There are other milestones older children reach as well that a child with birth injuries may not be able to reach.

If your child has suffered birth injuries, you need an experienced Los Angeles personal injury attorney on your side. A birth injury lawyer Los Angeles can advise you on how to proceed with your claim. Contact the top birth injury attorney Los Angeles has to offer to find out your rights.