Infant Bruising: When Should You Be Worried?

Birth is a very difficult process, both for the mother and the baby. This is true whether a delivery is quick and free of complications or is prolonged and difficult. When new parents see their baby for the first time, one thing they often don’t expect is to see their child covered in bruises.

During the delivery process, a lot of pressure gets exerted on the infant so it’s very common for babies to enter the world with some bruises on their little bodies. In many cases, when a child is born with some bruising, it’s nothing to be concerned about and will clear up on its own over time — even though it’s still an alarming thing to see. However, in some cases, bruising can be linked to some types of birth trauma. So how do you know when bruises on your child are a sign of a more serious problem? Generally speaking, if you experienced a prolonged, complicated delivery, the more likely it is that your child has experienced a birth injury.

Were birth-assisting tools used during your delivery? In some cases, tools like forceps and vacuum extractors may be used to help out during a difficult delivery. But if these tools aren’t used appropriately, they have the potential to injure the child. Forceps, for example, can damage nerves, the skull, or a child’s eyes while vacuum extractors can cause brain damage and skull fractures. While bruises and superficial cuts also commonly occur when birth assisting tools are used, if cuts are severe enough to require stitches or other treatment, there’s a chance that too much force was used or the tools weren’t used correctly.

Bruising also very often occurs along with cases of shoulder dystocia. Shoulder dystocia is a condition that occurs when the child’s shoulder gets caught behind the mother’s pelvic bone and extra assistance is needed to help the child get unstuck. It can occur during any delivery, even if the mother had a healthy pregnancy with a low risk of complications, and it’s not something doctors are able to easily predict or prevent from happening. However, even though shoulder dystocia isn’t easily preventable, doctors need to take appropriate measures to help the child without injuring them when it happens. If a doctor isn’t careful when maneuvering the child into a different position, it can potentially lead to bone fractures or brachial plexus injuries

When most people develop bruises, they aren’t thought of as being something serious. But if your child was injured around the time of birth, they could have to deal with effects that last for the rest of their life. Birth trauma cases can be very complex, so one of the best things you can do is get in touch with a birth trauma lawyer as soon as possible. At Goodwin & Scieszka, you’ll be able to talk to a Michigan lawyer who can answer all of your questions and help you understand your legal options. Contact us today for help with your case.