Giving birth is a process that’s stressful enough—you have so many details to worry about before and after delivery, let alone the delivery itself. You’ll likely endure pain and discomfort, even if you do opt to use pain killers. But through it all, you’re probably trying to avoid thinking about birth injuries because you want to use your thoughts to think about a healthy baby.

Unfortunately, birth injuries are still a possibility and could happen to your baby. One of those birth injuries that is possible is Erb’s palsy. 1 in 1,000 babies suffer from a brachial plexus injury known as Erb’s palsy, which shows it’s fairly common and a real possibility for your baby’s delivery.

Let’s take a look at the prognosis for this injury, whether or not it’s permanent, what causes it, and treatment options so that you can feel fully informed and be prepared if this happens or has happened to your baby.

As an expecting parent, all you can think about is your baby and their health. If you’ve been meticulous about taking supplements, going to visits with doctors, and taking care of your own body, you can typically expect that your child will be born healthy. Although that’s usually the case, sometimes it’s not. Unfortunately, a baby can be injured during birth or have a genetic defect that you didn’t know about until they’re born.