Shoulder Dystocia

Connecticut Brachial Plexus Injury Lawyers

Labor can last for hours leading up to the most joyous moment in your life - the birth of your child. However, when complications occur during childbirth, time seems to stop while at the same time speeding by. Every second is precious, and doctors must move quickly to assure the safety of both the mother and the baby. Sadly, when so much is at stake, doctors may act too quickly and sometimes negligently. If a complication during childbirth, such as shoulder dystocia, has caused severe injury to your child, you may have a claim for medical malpractice.

At Weinstein & Wisser, P.C., we truly care about you and your family. We are here to find answers, expose negligence, and pursue accountability. Contact the medical malpractice attorney of Weinstein & Wisser, P.C. to schedule a free case evaluation.

Doctors are using words like brachial plexus, shoulder dystocia, and erb's palsy.
All I know is that my baby suffered somehow, but what does all this mean?

Shoulder dystocia occurs when the baby's shoulder gets stuck during childbirth. If forced, the brachial plexus nerves (the nerves through the neck and shoulder) can be over-stretched. This type of nerve damage can lead to a birth injury known as erb's palsy or brachial plexus palsy.

Symptoms of erb's palsy and brachial plexus injury can vary depending on the type of injury. However, symptoms generally surface shortly after birth and may include:

• Weakness or paralysis in the upper arm
• Inability to rotate lower arm
• Limited use of the affected hand
• Arm stays close to the body on the affected side

In certain cases where the delivery results in shoulder dystocia, doctors will have to intentionally fracture the clavicle bone in to provide more flexibility to navigate the birthing canal. However, in other cases, doctors may chose to use assistive devices, such as a vacuum or forceps to aid in the delivery. If too much force is used to extract the baby, though, the brachial plexus nerves can be damaged.

Erb's palsy and other brachial plexus injuries can also be caused by a breech delivery or forced vaginal delivery of a large baby. In both instances there may be a valid claim for medical malpractice if the doctor failed to perform adequate testing to determine if a Cesarean section (c-section) birth would have been necessary.

Contact our Connecticut Medical Malpractice Attorney

If your child has suffered due to shoulder dystocia or other complications during childbirth, our law firm has the resources and experience to investigate the incident and help you pursue a claim for medical malpractice. Contact our West Hartford law firm for a free consultation with an experienced and caring medical malpractice lawyer.