Why Was My Baby Born with Bruises?

For many mothers, giving birth is a difficult and demanding experience. Unfortunately, even after it’s all over, the trauma might be just beginning. The moment you get your first look at the tiny new life that you brought into this world should be magical. You could be in for a shock, however, when you discover bruising. Why would your baby be born with a bruised face, for example?

What causes bruising during delivery?

As much of a shock as an infant bearing bruises might deliver, newborn bruising doesn’t necessarily mean anything is wrong. Giving birth is not a gentle experience for either the mother or the child, especially during a difficult or prolonged delivery.  Nevertheless, since not all bruising is normal, you might need to investigate the possibility of a birth injury.

The mechanics of baby bruising

Why do babies bruise during birth? There are three main ways it happens:

• The mother’s birth canal. During delivery, the mother’s pelvic muscles push the baby through a narrow birth canal. The baby faces pressure from the mother’s vaginal walls and may suffer bruising in this manner. The soft tissues of the head and face are the most vulnerable here.
• The mother’s pelvic bone. Bone is much harder than skin and muscle, and it can easily bruise a baby. Bruises arise when the baby’s head or limbs press too hard against the mother’s pelvic bone.
• Medical instruments such as forceps (tongs) or vacuum extractors can bruise a baby if not used with the utmost care. This type of bruising can appear almost anywhere on the child’s body. The use of delivery tools must be gentle, because careless usage can definitely trigger a medical malpractice

Bruises most often appear on the baby’s head, scalp, arms and legs.

The three types of bruises

Three types of bruises can occur during childbirth:

• Subcutaneous (under the skin);
• Intramuscular (within the muscle tissue); and
• Periosteal (on top of or under the bones).

Among these, periosteal bruises are the most serious.

Common vs. excessive bruising

Some amount of bruising during delivery, while not inevitable, is common. Bruising is normal, while birth injuries should be cause for concern. Past a certain point, however, even bruising can be excessive and can constitute medical malpractice. Your suspicions should arise when your baby’s bruises:

• Do not heal within two weeks
• Appear unusually large or discolored
• Appear swollen or hard
• Appear in dangerous locations such as the spine

Bruising can indicate more serious issues if combined with other symptoms. Lethargy, abnormal muscle tone, or poor reflexes can indicate neurological trauma, for example. Bone fractures, nerve damage, and internal bleeding are all possible injuries that can coincide with severe bruising. A subconjunctival hemorrhage (redness on the white of your baby’s eye) occurs when blood vessels underneath the surface of the skin around the eye rupture.

Don’t be afraid to get a second opinion, because bruising can sometimes mask more serious conditions such as shoulder dystocia, where one of the baby’s shoulders gets stuck behind the mother’s pelvis during delivery.

Was the delivery rough or careless? Don’t let your healthcare provider intimidate you

There is a fine line between inevitable and preventable injury. If you pay attention, however, you might be able to detect signs of rough handling or other mismanagement during the delivery. This might in turn suggest that your provider committed medical negligence against you, your baby, or both. Your doctors have a responsibility to protect both mother and baby. When you start asking questions, however, the hospital might  try to downplay any visible trauma.

Long-term effects of severe bruising at birth

Severe bruising during delivery can lead to complications later in your child’s life, perhaps extending even into adulthood. Bruising might, for example, indicate more serious birth injuries such as Erb’s palsy, brain bleeds, or cephalohematomas. The results could include developmental delays or even permanent disability. Early diagnosis of a birth injury can limit the long-term harm in many cases. Waiting too long can have the opposite effect.

What Ohio and Kentucky parents should know about their legal rights

Both Ohio and Kentucky (and every other state) allow parents to pursue birth injury claims if medical negligence caused harm to your baby. However, there are time limits for filing in both states. In most cases, you have one year in either state to file a medical malpractice claim, but the law works differently when children are involved. Your best move is to talk to a lawyer as soon as possible.

Acting quickly can not only benefit your baby’s medical needs, it can also strengthen your legal claim. You need to act quickly to gain access to medical records. Once a malpractice claim arises, obtaining timely access to medical records is crucial, as providers may become more defensive and less transparent. Additionally, filing an ultimately successful medical malpractice claim can help cover medical costs, therapy, and future care needs for your child.

Protecting your legal rights if your baby was born with unexplained bruising

If you find unexplained bruises on your newborn, photograph them immediately. Even if your baby’s bruising fades, it may point to a deeper issue that deserves your attention. Contact your healthcare provider about the bruises. Written communications are better because documentary evidence is more persuasive than recollections of verbal exchanges.

In addition, it is critical that you secure a second opinion from an independent healthcare provider. Don’t tell them you are considering filing a medical malpractice claim against another healthcare provider.

The right lawyer can make all the difference

If you notice bruising on your baby, it is prudent to hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Preparing for the worst includes consulting with an experienced medical malpractice law firm Crandall & Pera serves medical malpractice victims throughout Ohio and Kentucky. All told, we have won hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients. Every baby deserves a careful delivery, and those who make negligent mistakes should be held accountable.