If you are waiting for your child to arrive, you may have some concerns about birth injuries. Birth injuries are not extremely common, but they do happen. You may still be afraid that something could happen to your baby, and you may wonder if you have any legal recourse if that does happen.
Want to know everything possible about birth injuries and the risk you face? Keep reading to learn more.
Risk Factors for Birth Injuries
There are several risk factors associated with birth injuries, and doctors should be able to spot them and anticipate potential harm to mother and child.
Fetal size is one indicator that something may be wrong. Premature babies are more prone to birth injuries than babies who are born "on time." Preemies, those who are born before they are 37 weeks in gestation, may be more likely to experience scalp swelling, broken bones, and issues related to oxygen deprivation.
Keep in mind that a large baby can also be at a high risk for birth injuries. These injuries may include cephalopelvic disproportion, which occurs when the mother's pelvis is too small for the baby. A doctor may fail to see that this happening and put the child and mother through a risky delivery.
A birth that involves the use of many tools can also lead to birth injuries. Forceps and vacuum extractors can cause some major issues, even though they are helpful for guiding the baby out of the womb. Injuries that result could include Erb's palsy and brachial plexus injuries.
The placement of the baby may be an issue. For example, babies are delivered head first, but there are cases when the baby is not in the proper position. When the baby does not appear to be in a safe position, the doctor may perform a C-section instead of encouraging the mother to deliver vaginally.
Birth Injuries & Negligence
As you can see, negligent medical care can play a role in each of these birth injuries. The doctor should be able to look for signs of each of these conditions. They should also be able to determine if the mother has preeclampsia or gestational diabetes.
When a doctor fails to diagnose a health condition appropriately and take the right steps to move forward, you may have a birth injury case against a medical professional. Make an appointment with a birth injury attorney today to discuss your case and move forward.
