As a new mother whose baby sustained injuries during birth, it’s easy to feel alone. However, you’re far from it. In just one year, 19,582 infants across the US are lost due to birth injury and other causes.
Whether this tragedy is a loss you suffered or your child was lucky enough to survive, a birth injury can be a traumatic experience for both parents and children. Luckily, financial compensation is available in cases of medical malpractice.
Read on to learn 6 top reasons that you should seek out a birth injury lawyer.
1. Doctors Had Delayed Responses
Doctors have the reasonable responsibility to monitor an infant’s responses during the process of childbirth. While some crying is normal because of the cold transition from womb to world, there are signs of distress that medical professionals must watch for.
If an infant is crying more than normal or seems to be in pain, the doctor must assess the situation further. However, the response must be immediate. Doctors must instantly react if the baby is acting like they are suffering.
A delayed response can cause many issues. Delayed breathing, difficulty moving, and suffocation are some of the most common. This could restrict oxygen flow to the brain and cause brain damage.
If you suspect that your doctor did not appropriately respond to your infant’s suffering, you likely have a birth injury case. Attorneys can help you find the best course of action in these situations.
2. Cerebral Palsy Is Present
Cerebral palsy is a group of neurological disorders that result from damage to a still-developing brain.
Because of this, birth injury is one of the main causes of cerebral palsy. Umbilical cord injuries, strangulation, and suffocation at birth can cause this disorder. So can a doctor that is too rough with the baby when guiding them out of the birth canal.
There are many signs that your newborn may have cerebral palsy:
- Stiff muscles
- Exaggerated reflexes
- Muscle tone/tension variation
- Tremors and involuntary shaking
- An extreme/unusual preference for one side of the body
If you notice any of these symptoms in your infant, take them to a doctor ASAP. Then begin the process of getting compensation for those medical bills and for your child’s disability-related suffering.
3. Signs of Nerve Injuries
In addition to cerebral palsy, nerve injuries are a common result of medical malpractice. Usually, these are injuries to the brachial plexus. This set of nerves takes brain signals and transmits them to the arms and hands to make them move.
Some signs of this injury include:
- Muscle weakness in an arm/hand
- Difficulty grasping things
- Paralysis in an arm/hand
- Decreased movement in the upper body
- Low sensation/reactivity when touched on an arm/hand
A brachial plexus injury usually happens when the doctor applies excessive force during birth. They are most common during difficult or slow-moving vaginal births. This may tear, stretch, or compress the nerves.
4. Vacuum Extractors Caused Problems
Vacuum extractors are a tool that delivery teams sometimes use to aid swift movement through the vaginal canal. This is not the standard. It is often called “assisted delivery.”
Because it is not the standard, it needs to be done by a specialized doctor. If someone who lacks sufficient knowledge attempts to use the extractor, they will likely use it incorrectly.
This form of malpractice most commonly leads to head injuries. Brain hemorrhaging that leads to stroke can occur. There may also be brain damage due to excessive force, nerve problems, concussions, and more.
In some cases, this may lead to permanent disability.
If your child is injured after a vacuum extractor was used during birth, that extractor is a likely reason. These situations are often medical malpractice.
An attorney can help you get many types of compensation. Money to take care of a child’s disability, funds for 24-hour care, payments for loss of quality of life, medical bills, treatment plans, and more are available.
5. Delayed C-Sections
Assisted delivery does not always use a vacuum to extract the baby from the birth canal. It commonly also refers to cesarian sections (C-sections).
Doctors have the professional responsibility of determining when a C-section is necessary. They need to monitor the infant during labor and ensure that there is no distress. If there are problems like breech births or dangerous umbilical cord placement, an immediate C-section is essential.
If this C-section is delayed, the infant may lose access to oxygen. This can lead to brain injury or to death. A delayed C-section that results in injury is a strong case for medical malpractice.
6. Sudden Infant Death Post-Birth
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is an abnormal tragedy that strikes 4,000 American families each year. This takes place when an otherwise-healthy infant dies suddenly while asleep. It usually impacts children under 1 year old.
Some researchers believe that birth-related trauma may be a cause of SIDS. This theory is not yet proven, but experts at Seattle Children’s Hospital are continuing to research it.
While further study is needed, you should still consult with a lawyer after experiencing this unspeakable tragedy. There may be something that you did not recognize as a birth injury that lead to fatality.
Hire a Birth Injury Lawyer Today
Now that you know some specific reasons why you might hire a birth injury lawyer to get justice, it’s time to talk with one and begin getting legal help. Find Injury Law is committed to using our 30 years of experience to get you birth injury compensation.
We help pair you with the most capable medical malpractice and birth injury lawyers in your area. Contact us to learn more about how we can assist you with your specific case.