A long or difficult vaginal birth can cause a brachial plexus injury. This is when the doctor doesn’t prevent nerve injuries to the shoulder. This can be a devastating injury not only for the baby but the whole family. Additional medical care is necessary that may not be covered by insurance.
About Brachial Plexus Injury
Erb’s Palsy is a form of obstetric brachial plexus disorder. This injury occurs when the nerves in a baby’s upper arm are damaged. It typically affects one or two of every 1,000 babies. A lesion at Erb’s point causes Erb’s Palsy. This point is the area near the baby’s neck. It is where the fifth and sixth cranial nerves merge to create the upper point of the brachial plexus.
The nerves in the brachial plexus give movement and feeling to the baby’s arm, hand, and fingers. Shoulder dystocia during birth causes Erb’s palsy. Usually, infants cannot move that shoulder or upper arm. Sometimes, Erb’s palsy affects the whole trunk and an arm is paralyzed.
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