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Cranial Compression Lawyer in Cleveland, Ohio

Birth Injuries Caused by Cerebral Compression

Damage to the brain is one of the most devastating forms of birth injury a newborn can suffer. Brain injury in newborns may occur in several ways, they can also be caused by trauma such as cranial compression.

If your child suffered a birth injury due to cranial compression, or other trauma during childbirth, you may be entitled to compensation. Our proven birth injury lawyers at The Becker Law Firm can review your case and determine how we can help.

Why Choose The Becker Law Firm?

  • Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions in verdicts and settlements.
  • We’ve successfully handled cranial compression cases, including a $11.35M verdict secured by Attorneys Mike Becker and David Skall.
  • Our attorneys are recognized nationally in birth injury and medical malpractice.
  • We’re passionate about helping families secure justice.

To request a free consultation with an attorney, call or contact us online.

What Is Cranial (Cerebral) Compression?

Cerebral compression occurs when excessive pressure is exerted on a baby’s head during childbirth. A certain amount of pressure is normal as the baby navigates the birth canal, but when this pressure becomes too great, it can reduce blood flow and oxygen to the brain, potentially leading to brain injury. This is a type of traumatic brain injury sometimes referred to as CCIE (cranial compression ischemic encephalopathy), meaning excessive pressure on the outside of the fetal head resulted in decreased blood supply to the fetal brain.

Symptoms of cerebral compression may include:

  • Neurological abnormalities in the early days of life
  • Difficulty feeding or sucking
  • Seizures in the newborn period
  • Developmental delays, which may arise later

Cerebral compression injuries can occur without obvious visible external damage to the baby. However, sometimes signs of compression injuries, such as excessive head molding, cephalohematoma, caput succedaneum, and bruising may be present. In the newborn period, fetuses who sustain a cranial compression injury often will not show signs of generalized asphyxia or metabolic acidosis but will still have neurologic abnormalities.

How Cerebral Compression Impacts the Brain 

When blood flow is restricted due to excessive pressure, the brain may not receive adequate oxygen (a condition known as hypoxia). This can result in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a type of brain injury that can cause long-term disabilities like cerebral palsy or cognitive impairments.

What Are Causes of Excessive Cranial Compression?

There are several possible causes of excessive cranial compression, including:

  • Difficult, prolonged, or stalled labor
  • Excessively strong, prolonged, or frequent contractions (uterine hyperstimulation / uterine tachysystole, sometimes caused by improper use of labor-inducing drugs such as Pitocin or Cytotec)
  • Abnormal fetal position (e.g. occiput posterior presentation or OP)
  • Improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors
  • Variance in size of baby’s head and mother’s pelvis (cephalopelvic disproportion or CPD)
  • Impingement of the fetal head upon on the mother’s pelvis compounded by maternal pushing
  • Persistent high resting pressures of the uterus

How Can Excessively Strong Contractions Cause Cranial Compression?

Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers who oversee labor and delivery have a duty to ensure labor-inducing drugs are used appropriately and to monitor both the mother and the baby (e.g., through fetal heart rate monitoring) to identify signs of fetal distress and oxygen deprivation. They must take appropriate measures to respond to distress and reduce risks of brain damage to the baby. For example, early decelerations of the baby’s heart rate on electronic fetal monitoring strips usually indicate compression of the baby’s head during a contraction.

What Is Head Molding?

Head molding refers to the reshaping of a baby’s head during vaginal delivery due to the softness of newborn skulls and movable plates, enabling adaptation to the narrow birth canal. While mild molding is common and resolves within a few days, excessive head molding can signal underlying trauma and may indicate an increased risk of brain injury. Excessive head molding, therefore, could indicate more serious trauma and possible infant brain damage.

Signs of excessive head molding may include:

  • Noticeably elongated or misshapen head
  • Swelling or ridging along the skull’s sutures
  • Bruising around the scalp

What Causes Excessive Head Molding? 

  • Prolonged Labor: Extended pressure on the baby’s head from prolonged contractions. 
  • Abnormal Fetal Presentation: Positions such as breech or occiput posterior make head compression more likely. 
  • Labor-Inducing Drugs (e.g., Pitocin or Cytotec): These can cause overly strong and frequent contractions, placing additional stress on the baby’s head. 
  • Assisted Delivery Tools: Improper or forceful use of forceps or vacuum extractors can exacerbate head molding. 

While minor head molding is generally harmless, excessive molding should be evaluated—especially when paired with symptoms like seizures, irritability, or feeding difficulties. 

What is Cephalohematoma?

Cephalohematoma is a condition where blood pools under the periosteum (the membrane covering the baby’s skull) due to ruptured blood vessels. This localized swelling typically develops hours after birth and can sometimes be mistaken for other types of head injuries like caput succedaneum. It is caused by broken blood vessels on the fetal head, typically resulting from a difficult or prolonged birth, and may be associated with the use of forceps or vacuum-extractors.

Key characteristics of cephalohematoma:

  • It is firm to the touch and confined to one area of the skull.
  • Unlike caput succedaneum, it does not cross the sutures of the baby’s skull.
  • Swelling may take weeks or months to fully resolve.

Generally, cephalohematoma is not life-threatening and resolves on its own. However, complications such as jaundice, infection, or anemia can arise if the condition is not monitored or managed appropriately.

What is Caput Succedaneum?

Caput succedaneum is a soft swelling under the baby’s scalp caused by prolonged pressure during delivery. Unlike cephalohematoma, this swelling often crosses suture lines on the skull and typically disappears within a few days. It most commonly arises during vaginal births, particularly when labor is prolonged or vacuum extraction is used, or if the amniotic sac breaks early.

Symptoms and outcomes include:

  • Swelling of the scalp
  • Bruising or discoloration
  • Occasionally accompanied by minor scalp abrasions

Caput succedaneum rarely leads to complications; however, it should be monitored alongside other potential injuries to ensure no additional trauma has occurred.

Contact The Becker Law Firm to Request a Free Consultation

Birth injury cases are highly fact-specific, which is why our firm encourages parents and families to reach out to us for a personalized case evaluation. Based in Cleveland, The Becker Law Firm provides free and confidential case evaluations to victims and families across Ohio and beyond. Contact us to speak with a dedicated birth injury lawyer.

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The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute an attorney/client relationship.
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