Birth Injury Attorney in Des Moines

Types of Birth Injuries We Handle

Birth injuries range from conditions that resolve with early treatment to permanent disabilities requiring lifetime support. Some effects are apparent immediately after delivery. Others, including cerebral palsy, may not be diagnosed until a child misses developmental milestones months or years later. That delay affects how Iowa’s filing deadlines apply to your case, and understanding how the injury occurred is the first step toward determining whether negligence played a role.

Common conditions we handle include:

• Cerebral palsy: Brain damage occurring before, during, or shortly after birth that affects motor function and can cause lifelong physical and cognitive challenges.
• Erb’s palsy (brachial plexus injury): Nerve damage to the arm and shoulder sustained during delivery, often resulting in weakness or paralysis in the affected limb.
• Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE): A brain injury caused by insufficient oxygen and blood flow during labor or delivery, which can produce severe cognitive and developmental disabilities. HIE is often linked to delayed responses to fetal distress.
• Shoulder dystocia: A delivery complication where the baby’s shoulder becomes lodged in the birth canal, creating a risk of nerve damage and oxygen deprivation.
• Intracranial hemorrhage: Bleeding in or around the brain that can result from traumatic delivery or improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors.
• Facial nerve injuries: Caused by pressure on the baby’s face during delivery, particularly when forceps are involved.
• Bone fractures: Clavicle and other fractures that occur during difficult deliveries involving excessive force.

Common Causes of Birth Injuries

Not every difficult birth gives rise to a legal claim. A birth injury case requires showing that a medical provider’s conduct fell below the accepted standard of care and that this failure caused the harm. These are the most common standard-of-care failures we see:

• Failure to recognize fetal distress: Abnormal fetal heart rate patterns are warning signs. Ignoring or misreading them is one of the most common causes of preventable birth injuries.
• Delayed or improper C-section: When fetal distress is present, a delayed cesarean delivery can cause oxygen deprivation and brain injury.
• Improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors: Excessive force with these instruments can cause nerve damage, skull fractures, and intracranial hemorrhage.
• Medication errors during labor: Incorrect dosage of oxytocin (Pitocin) or anesthesia errors can harm both mother and child.
• Failure to manage maternal risk conditions: Unaddressed preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, or infection during prenatal care can increase the risk of birth injury.
• Prolonged labor without intervention: Extended labor without appropriate medical response creates a risk of oxygen deprivation and physical trauma to the infant.