When the facial nerve is compressed, stretched, or injured before or during birth, it can cause facial nerve palsy. Because the facial nerve controls many of the muscles used for blinking, closing the eye, smiling, frowning, and moving the mouth, an injury to it can be concerning for parents.
Facial nerve palsy often leaves one side of the baby’s face looking uneven or weak. Babies who have facial weakness may have trouble closing one eye, feeding, making normal facial movements, or showing equal movement on both sides of the face.
In many cases, the injury improves over time, but in serious cases, it may be permanent. If medical negligence contributed to the injury, parents and the newborn may be entitled to compensation.
Symptoms of facial nerve palsy
Symptoms may be noticeable immediately after the birth or shortly thereafter. Depending on the severity of the case, the symptoms may be easier to notice. Symptoms include:
- One side of the face looks weak or droopy.
- Uneven facial movement when the baby cries.
- One eye does not close fully.
- The mouth pulls more to one side.
- Weak or missing forehead movement on one side.
- Trouble sucking or feeding.
- Drooling or milk leaking from one side of the mouth.
- A flat or uneven smile.
- Less blinking on one side.
- Eye irritation if the eyelid does not close completely.
Injuries caused by facial nerve palsy
Although most cases of facial nerve palsy are mild and victims recover within a few months, some victims aren’t so lucky. However, if the nerve injury is severe enough, it can cause permanent damage that affects the victim in several ways.
Long-term injuries can include speech or oral-motor issues as the child grows, trouble closing their eye, uneven facial movement, weakness on one side of the face, feeding problems, and cosmetic differences that affect facial expression.
If the eyelid does not close properly, specialized eye care may be necessary because the eye’s surface can become dry or scratched.
How can medical malpractice cause facial nerve palsy?
Facial nerve palsy isn’t always caused by negligence and can’t be prevented. Still, that doesn’t mean healthcare professionals don’t make mistakes that do cause facial nerve palsy in newborns.
When the condition is caused by careless delivery decisions, excessive force, or failure to respond to warning signs, it may raise legal concerns.
Possible medical negligence may include:
- Using forceps improperly during delivery
- Applying too much pressure to the baby’s face
- Continuing a difficult vaginal delivery when a C-section may have been safer
- Failing to recognize that the baby was too large for safe vaginal delivery
- Failing to respond to prolonged labor or obstructed labor
- Pulling, twisting, or applying excessive force during delivery
- Failing to monitor signs that the baby was in distress
- Not recognizing or documenting facial weakness after birth
- Delaying specialist care when the baby’s symptoms were obvious
- Failing to protect the baby’s eye when the eyelid could not close
Facial Nerve Palsy FAQs
What causes facial nerve palsy during birth?
As the name suggests, facial nerve palsy is caused when pressure is applied to the facial nerve during birth. That pressure can be created by the baby’s position, pressure in the birth canal, or from tools used by healthcare staff during delivery.
In particular, forceps pressure is known as a common cause of facial nerve injury in newborns; however, some injuries are also caused by pressure from before the birth. Difficult labor, large baby size, and abnormal positioning are also known to increase the risk.
How does forceps cause facial nerve palsy?
If medical staff use forceps and place too much pressure on the baby’s face or use the tool improperly, it can cause facial nerve palsy. While forceps are sometimes necessary, they must be used carefully.
The facial nerve that runs through the area is vulnerable to compression. If the staff applies too much force, places the forceps in the wrong place, or elects to continue using forceps when a C-section would be safer, the baby can suffer a preventable injury.
Does facial nerve palsy in newborns go away?
In many cases, symptoms and injuries improve over time, but in the most severe cases, injuries may be long-lasting. Those who suffer from serious facial nerve palsy may experience lasting weakness in the face or uneven facial movement.
Parents should keep all follow-up appointments and ask whether the baby needs care from a pediatric neurologist, ophthalmologist, or other specialist. If the baby is showing signs of ongoing symptoms, they should not be ignored.
Can facial nerve palsy affect feeding?
Yes. Facial nerve palsy can make feeding harder for some newborns.
Because one side of the mouth may be weak, the baby may have trouble latching, sucking, or keeping milk inside the mouth. Parents may also notice drooling, leaking milk, or poor feeding. This is particularly concerning, as feeding problems can also impede weight gain if left unaddressed.
A doctor, lactation consultant, or feeding specialist may help the family find safer and easier ways to feed the baby while the nerve heals.
Why is eye care important with facial nerve palsy?
In some cases of facial nerve palsy, the baby may not be able to close one eyelid. Because the eye stays open in those cases, it can become dry, irritated, or scratched.
A lubricant may be needed to protect the eye during this time period, which will also prevent corneal abrasions when the eyelid doesn’t fully close.
Eye symptoms must be treated quickly, meaning parents should ask their doctor whether eye drops, ointment, patching, or an ophthalmology referral is needed.
What records may help show what caused the injury?
Several types of records can help you and your attorney understand what happened and who may be at fault for the issues. Those records can include:
- Labor and delivery notes.
- Fetal monitoring strips.
- C-section notes.
- Forceps or vacuum documentation.
- Delivery room records.
- Discharge papers.
- Specialist reports.
- Newborn exam notes.
- Nursing notes.
These records may show whether delivery was difficult, whether tools were used, whether the baby showed signs of trauma, and whether medical providers responded properly after birth.
Should parents contact a lawyer if they suspect malpractice?
Absolutely. If you believe your baby’s facial nerve palsy was caused by a medical mistake, contacting an attorney is critical to getting the answers you need. Even if you’re unsure if a mistake was made, having an attorney review your records may uncover negligence you didn’t even know existed.
These cases often require medical experts because the issue is not just whether the baby was injured, but whether the injury was preventable.
Why Should Parents Contact Weisser Law if They Suspect Medical Malpractice Caused Facial Nerve Palsy?
Weisser Law can help you understand what really happened. Our team will review your medical records in depth, consult with experts, and provide an explanation of what happened and how negligence may have played a role.
Aside from getting you answers, Weisser Law will fight for you and your baby’s future. Facial nerve palsy can require treatment, visits with specialists, and testing that adds up quickly. We will fight to recover damages for treatment and now and into the future, ensuring you aren’t stuck paying for a healthcare provider’s mistake.
Weisser Law offers guidance without added financial stress. With free consultations and no upfront costs, parents can get answers and take action without risk.