Facial paralysis or facial nerve palsy is the loss of controllable (voluntary) muscle movement in an infant’s face, and can be caused by pressure placed on the facial nerve just before or at the time of delivery. Palsy occurs when the nerve is damaged, and total facial paralysis occurs when the nerve is severed or loses total functionality.
Causes
The infant’s facial nerve (also called the seventh cranial nerve) can be damaged during a difficult delivery. When doctors use instruments such as forceps or a vacuum to extract a baby from the birth canal, they can damage nerves and lead to facial palsy or facial paralysis. There are of other factors that put a baby at risk for suffering facial nerve damage, including:
- large baby size (sometimes more frequent when the mother has gestational diabetes)
- a pregnancy that lasts beyond full term due date
- long labor
- use of epidural anesthesia
- use of a medication to induce labor and stronger contractions
If you feel your baby suffered from facial paralysis because of a birth procedure, contact Goldberg & Osborne today. We invite you to fill out our [online claim form] so we can evaluate your case and help you protect your rights.
What Are the Symptoms of Facial Paralysis?
The most common form of birth-related facial nerve palsy involves only the lower part of the facial nerve, which controls the muscles around the lips. The muscle weakness is most noticeable when the infant cries. The newborn infant may also have these symptoms:
- the eyelid may not close on the affected side
- the lower face (below the eyes) appears uneven during crying
- the sides of the mouth move unevenly when the baby cries
- there is no movement, or complete paralysis, on the affected side of the face (from the forehead to the chin in severe cases)
Facial paralysis stemming from childbirth is a serious but usually preventable occurrence. Depending on the extent of the injury, a small child may have to undergo extensive physical therapy. In the worst cases, the paralysis to part or all of the face is permanent.
Childbirth Injury Attorneys
If you or a loved one gave birth to a child who suffers from facial paralysis, contact our experienced law firm today. The attorneys at Goldberg & Osborne will work with you to protect your family’s rights.
Our childbirth injury attorneys work diligently on behalf of our clients. Please feel free to fill out our brief online claim form to start the process, and one of our attorneys will provide a FREE evaluation to help you explore your rights. During this consultation, an attorney will examine the circumstances surrounding the birth of your child to determine if you have a legitimate claim.
Our experienced childbirth injury attorneys will help you:
- get through this tough time by gathering the necessary evidence needed to evaluate support your claim.
- recover the compensation you deserve for medical bills and your family’s pain and suffering.
- reclaim a sense of control and dignity by fighting for your family’s rights, while staying sensitive to your personal needs and confidentiality during this difficult time.
Contact us now to have your case evaluated by a dedicated, experienced childbirth injury attorney – completely free of charge. You must act now to protect your rights! Call us today or submit your information through our simple, secure, online case form. We will respond to your inquiry and determine how we can help you.
