Traumatic Birth Injuries
One reason that innocent children sustain birth injuries involving the brain, head and neck is medical negligence. Whether the result of a lack of experience or inattention, healthcare providers sometimes cause serious and irreparable harm to their most vulnerable patients. Despite the unintentional nature of their actions, these types of errors can have catastrophic results for children and their families.
If you suspect that your child may have been injured as a result of medical negligence, you may want to consider your legal options. Many families have been affected by traumatic birth injuries, and you are not alone. Stern Law, PLLC has assisted many, many mothers and fathers who are coping with their child’s injury to the head or neck. Call (800) 462-5772 for a free consultation.
Birth injuries during pregnancy
Although the term “birth injury” implies an injury that occurs during delivery, many originate before a child is even born. Genetics and physiological factors can be the catalyst for a traumatic birth or injury to a baby, but in many other cases, insufficient or inadequate prenatal care is the underlying source of the complication.
Here is a list of the most common types of pregnancy-related medical issues that, if left undiagnosed or untreated, may cause serious and sometimes fatal birth injuries:
- Blood incompatibility
- Cervical risks
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Gestational diabetes and low blood sugar
- Gestational hypertension
- High risk pregnancy
- Intrauterine growth restriction
- Maternal health conditions
- Maternal infections
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Post-term pregnancy
- Preeclampsia
- Premature labor
- Exposure to toxins/teratogens
- Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs
Birth injuries during labor and delivery
Regardless of the circumstances, the labor and delivery process can be extremely stressful to your newborn. However, when medical complications arise during this time, serious birth injuries can result. The most common causes of birth injuries that occur during labor and delivery are as follows:
- Oxygen deprivation
- Cesarean delivery
- Delayed emergency Cesarean section
- Delayed delivery
- Prolonged labor
- Fetal distress
- Fetal monitoring errors
- Ischemia
- Meconium and meconium aspiration
- Umbilical cord prolapse or compressions
- Labor induction
- Trauma (bruising, fractures)
- Abnormal presentation or breech birth
- Cephalopelvic disproportion
- Fetal macrosomia, large fetus
- Forceps or vacuum extractor injuries
- Shoulder dystocia
- Placenta abruption and placenta previa
- Cytotec labor injuries due to labor induction
- Eclampsia and Preeclampsia
- Chronic hypertension
- Premature rupture of membranes
- Sepsis or infection
- Multiple births
- Uterine anomaly, uterine rupture
- Vaginal birth after previous cesarean section, or VBAC
Birth injuries after delivery
Birth injuries resulting from medical negligence may also occur after your child is born. Some of the most common causes of post-partum birth injuries that can cause head, neck and brain trauma are:
- Hypothermia, brain cooling, treatment errors
- Infection
- Neonatal hypoglycemia
- Newborn health conditions
- Treated and untreated seizures
- Sepsis
The complications from a traumatic birth injury can be devastating and result in lifelong disability. At Stern Law, PLLC, we care deeply about mothers and children harmed by medical misconduct. If you or your baby are the victim of a traumatic birth injury, please call (800) 462-5772 for a free review of your case.
