Birth injuries, whether they were preventable or injuries caused by the negligence of a health care provider, can have a tremendous impact on the lives of both a child and parent. Birth injuries can significantly affect the health and well-being of a child, as most people understand. However, there are significant emotional and psychological effects that a birth injury can have on parents as well.

In this article, a Louisville medical malpractice lawyer delves into the effects of birth trauma on both parents and children.

The Impact of a Birth Injury on the Child

The impact of a birth injury on a child can be significant. Yes, there are times when children completely recover from birth injuries, but that does not mean that the incident was harm free. Children can experience pain and suffering just like adults, even if they cannot properly communicate it to us.

Unfortunately, not every child completely recovers from a birth injury. Birth injuries can lead to significant long-term disabilities, including physical disabilities as well as cognitive or behavioral disabilities.

How Parents and Guardians are Affected

Birth trauma can have a significant effect on both the child and the parent, including their relationship with one another. The effects of a birth injury and birth trauma may go unnoticed and manifest in ways that many people do not think about. For parents, particularly mothers, there may be symptoms of severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or postpartum depression. Some of these signs and symptoms can include:

• Extreme anxiety and panic attacks
• Avoiding various locations or individuals that bring up memories of the birth injury
• Forgetfulness
• Feeling numb or having a general “brain fog” regularly
• Lack of interest in previously enjoyed activities
• Flashbacks of the traumatic birth or pregnancy
• Self-isolation from friends or family members
• Extreme fatigue
• Thoughts of suicide

It is not uncommon for a parent to blame themselves for their child’s injury, and these feelings could manifest themselves as a feeling of dislike towards a child. This is not abnormal, and many parents have these types of thoughts after traumatic incidents like this. This does not make them bad parents. These feelings will likely be more extreme in the days, weeks, and months following a birth injury and in parents whose child has sustained a permanent disability as a result of the incident.

If you and your family have been affected by a birth injury, it is important to recognize how the incident has affected all of you. The most important step that families can take towards healing is to talk to loved ones along with mental health professionals.

Working With a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If your child has sustained a birth injury caused by the negligent actions of a medical professional in Kentucky, we encourage you to reach out to a birth injury lawyer in Louisville as soon as possible. These claims are incredibly challenging, but you and your child deserve closure for what happened. No amount of compensation can erase the fact that an injury occurred, but it can help ease any added burdens placed on the child or the family as a result.

A medical malpractice lawyer can help walk you through this entire process. They will be your advocate, working to investigate the incident, enlisting assistance from trusted medical professionals, and handling all communication with insurance carriers and other attorneys.