Can Vacuum Delivery Cause Brain Damage?

Vacuum Birth Injury

In cases of prolonged labor, a doctor may decide to use a vacuum extractor to assist in the delivery.

While any type of delivery can carry some level of risk of birth injury to both mother and baby, vacuum assisted delivery, in particular, that raises that risk.

You need a Chicago birth injury lawyer working on your side.

What is the Severity Level of Injuries Stemming from Vacuum Extraction Deliveries?

Many doctors may choose to use vacuum extraction to assist in a delivery.

Generally speaking, this method lowers the risk of dangers that a Cesarean section or fetal distress to the unborn baby carry.

Yet, at the same time, when a vacuum extractor is used to assist in childbirth, there are other medical problems that can arise, particularly for the child.

In some instances, when vacuum extraction is used, the baby may experience only minor injuries, such as temporary wounds to the scalp or damaged blood vessels.

However, in other, more extreme cases, an infant can sustain serious injuries like a fractured skull or cephalohematoma, bleeding that occurs in the skull in the delicate tissues.

In the most severe cases, improper use of a vacuum extractor can lead to permanent brain damage of the baby’s brain.

Common Injuries Sustained After Vacuum Extraction

One of the most common types of birth injuries a newborn baby can suffer as a result of vacuum extraction procedures during birth is brachial plexus.

This is an injury that can happen as a result of the nerves in the infant’s shoulder being stretched too far and damaged during childbirth.

In particularly serious cases, brachial plexus injuries can be life-changing and may affect the child’s ability to move their arm and hand normally or even at all, depending on the circumstances of the injury.

Sometimes, a baby will suffer another type of brachial plexus injury during a delivery assisted by vacuum extraction, such as a bone fracture.

This is something that can and will heal over time, but regardless, such an injury may still have to be monitored closely by medical professionals.

When a child experiences brachial plexus, they can be left with certain physical limitations.

When a doctor elects to rely on vacuum extraction as a means for assisting in a childbirth, they must acknowledge that there are always risks that the baby can suffer a serious injury.

Risks Associated with Vacuum Extraction

When an expectant mother in labor is having difficulty delivering their child, the doctor has options that can help in assisting the birth.

Among them, some doctors opt for forceps or vacuum extraction.

Some doctors prefer vacuum extraction and believe it is an easier method of assisting a delivery than forceps because it merely involves the cup device being placed on the baby’s fetal head and has fewer risks to the mother.

Vacuum extraction is also generally milder on the infant and requires less anesthesia being administered to the mother than the use of other assistive methods.

However, problems can arise if the vacuum extractor is not properly used.

The soft suction cup creates a seal on the baby’s head to assist in the delivery process.

It can lead to serious injuries in the baby while the suction cup is attached to the head.

The device itself includes a tube attached to the cup.

The vacuum pump medical device provides the necessary suction to help the doctor and nurses pull the baby through and out of the birth canal more easily.

Unfortunately, even with expertise in using the vacuum extraction method, there are still risks of injury to the baby during labor and delivery.

A newborn’s skull is not fully fused and not fully developed, which makes it more susceptible to suffering injuries.

A baby’s skull is sensitive and can become injured as a result of the pressure of the vacuum extractor.

If the cup is not placed properly, it can cause severe injuries to the baby’s skull and even brain damage.

When a doctor relies on this method for assisting in a delivery, they are required to diligently use the recommended guidelines.

Overall, only experienced doctors and midwives should be using a vacuum extractor to assist in childbirth.

If the device is improperly used, it can cause injuries to the infant that can range from mild and temporary to severe and permanent.

If you are in the Chicago area and your child suffered injuries after vacuum extraction was used during delivery, you need an experienced vacuum extraction delivery lawyer on your side.

Contact the Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyers at your earliest convenience to discuss your case and to ensure that your child’s rights are protected.