What is a Birth Injury?
A birth injury can include injuries that occur to the mother or baby during the labor and delivery process. Frequently, babies or mothers suffer serious problems as a result of negligent prenatal, delivery or post-delivery care. In these cases, the injury occurs while the baby is in utero or due to injuries during the birthing process, such as improper fetal monitoring or improper delivery. A birth injury may involve:
- Mental Retardation
- Cerebral Palsy
- Erb's Palsy
- Hypoxi Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
- Complications due to Cesarean Sections
- Brain injuries caused by oxygen deprivation
- Wrongful death of the child or mother
Pre-Natal and Birthing Healthcare
Medical providers should provide the greatest care during the pre-natal and birthing process as both mother and baby are in vulnerable states of health. Health care professionals may be held liable for a pre-natal injury and an injury sustained during birth that include the following:
- Difficult or prolonged labor
- Failing to detect the umbilical cord wrapped around a baby's neck
- Unreasonable delay in performing an emergency Cesarean section
- Failure to test and treat conditions during pregnancy, or misdiagnosis for conditions such as: diabetes, pregnancy induced hypertension, preeclampsia, preterm labor, chorioamnionitis, maternal infection, group B strep infection, placenta previa, vasa previa
- Failing to recognize fetal distress
Common Birth Injury
One of the most common factors in a birth injury is oxygen deprivation to the brain during the birthing process. Approximately 10,000 babies each year develop cerebral palsy (a condition that affects the ability to control motor functions) as a result of a lack of oxygen. Oxygen deprivation can also cause other health problems for newborns including mental retardation, hypoxicischemic encephalopathy, and other types of brain damage.
Other preventable traumatic obstetric birth injuries that can harm babies and their mothers include:
- Brachial Plexus Palsy
- Klumpke's Palsy
- Torticollis Fractures
- Spinal cord trauma
- Cephalohematoma
- Intracranial hemorrhage
What should be done if a Birth Injury occurs?
Many medical professionals take great care to make sure that a birth injury is prevented. If a birth injury occurs due to negligence, those at fault may be held liable for the pain and suffering their actions may have caused. In many cases, the injuries sustained at birth can lead to lifelong health-related problems for both infants and their mothers.
Legal Help for Labor and delivery Birth Injury Victims
If you, or your child have suffered a serious labor and delivery injury due to a complication at birth that you believe is due to negligence on the part of a doctor or hospital, consult a lawyer at the Finz firm experienced in birth injury litigation today toll free at (855) TOP-FIRM or simply fill out the Free Birth Injury Case Evaluation form.
