Most deliveries go smoothly, but there are times when things go wrong, leaving a newborn with injuries that could have been prevented. In the US alone, seven out of 1,000 births involve an injury to the newborn.
For families, these moments can be overwhelming, to say the least. They want to know why the injury happened and if someone’s mistake played a role. It helps to understand the most common causes of birth injuries so that you can decide when it’s time to explore your legal options.
Common Causes of Birth Injuries
Some birth injuries are inevitable. However, others have preventable causes, such as the ones discussed below.
Poor Medical Decision-Making
At the time of labor and delivery, every decision has to be made promptly. When medical professionals fail to act in emergencies, the results can be devastating. Conditions like permanent nerve damage and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy can occur in mere minutes.
Sometimes, the injury stems from how the delivery is handled. For example, if a professional misuses the vacuum extractor or forceps, they may cause skull fractures, lacerations, or brachial plexus injuries. Incorrect use of these tools can alter the child’s future forever.
Overlooked Maternal Health Risks
Pregnancy isn’t just about monitoring the baby, as doctors also have to maintain the mother’s health. Some birth injuries track back to conditions that weren’t identified or treated in time. For example, maternal infection can be dangerous if allowed to progress. Group B strep and some other infections can pass to the baby during birth. They eventually may lead to brain injury, meningitis, or sepsis.
Inadequate Monitoring During Labor
Since labor is unpredictable, it’s important that the medical staff monitor the mother and the child continuously. They must track the fetal heart rate, contractions, and maternal vitals. However, if the staff miss or misinterpret these indicators, the baby may be left in distress for too long, which can lead to long-term complications.
Mismanagement of High-Risk Pregnancies
Some pregnancies start with known complications like gestational diabetes or carrying multiples. These situations require extra attention from specialists and the hospital staff. If healthcare providers fail to adjust care accordingly, the baby may be exposed to preventable dangers during delivery. Mismanagement may mean missed ultrasounds, unmonitored blood sugar levels, or ignoring symptoms that call for early delivery.
When to Call a Lawyer
Keep in mind that not every bird injury is an outcome of medical malpractice. However, if your child has a birth injury and you suspect a lapse in care, it’s best to speak to a nationally recognized birth injury lawyer.
You should seek legal guidance if the staff ignored the warning signs during pregnancy and labor or if they delayed critical interventions without a clear reason. If your child required immediate resuscitation or NICU care after birth, there may be a malpractice case there.
Endnote
Legal action can’t undo an injury, but it can secure resources for medical care and adaptive support your child may need. It also holds negligent providers accountable so that similar harm doesn’t come to others.
If you believe negligence led to your child’s birth injury, finding legal support for negligent birth injuries may be the first step you need to take. Specialized lawyers can guide you through the process to give you the peace and financial resources you deserve.
