Common Medical Mistakes That Cause Birth Injuries
Developments in medical care have decreased perinatal mortality rates or both mothers and babies. As a result, when birth injuries do occur, they are unexpected and devastating for everyone involved. In some situations, negative outcomes are unavoidable and are not related to quality of care.
However, in many cases, a poor outcome is directly linked to medical mistakes. If you or your child suffered from any of the most common mistakes that lead to birth injuries, contact an experienced Ohio personal injury and malpractice lawyer.
Attorney Kyle Wright with Kademenos, Wisehart, Hines, Dolyk & Wright Co., LPA is a highly skilled and successful personal injury attorney. Let us answer your questions and pursue a recovery that can help you deal with the birth injury causing you stress and heartache.
Call (419) 625-7770 for a free, no-risk consultation.
Missed Warning Signs in Prenatal Care
Effective prenatal care significantly reduces injuries to mothers and babies. But doctors who rush through appointments or do not properly analyze test results put patients at risk.
Without proper testing and asking the right questions, doctors can easily miss things like preeclampsia, a condition that can have serious health risks for mothers. Additionally, it can cause disrupted blood flow to the placenta, causing babies to have a low birth weight.
Another example is gestational diabetes. Proper diagnosis and treatment can minimize negative outcomes. If a doctor misses or ignores warning signs, babies often grow too quickly. This puts them at risk for complications during delivery.
Ignoring Signs of Shoulder Dystocia
Shoulder dystocia occurs when a baby’s head is successfully delivered but the shoulders get caught on the mother’s pubic bone. This can pinch the umbilical cord, restricting baby’s oxygen flow and leading to lifelong complications.
Shoulder dystocia can also cause bone breaks during delivery and brachial plexus injuries. Signs of shoulder dystocia include retraction of the baby, maternal obesity, preeclampsia, and fetal macrosomia. If a doctor fails to recognize these signs, the infant is at risk of serious birth injuries.
Failure to Perform a C-Section
Many birth injuries occur because of an OB/GYN’s failure to act fast. Seconds matter when a baby is not getting enough oxygen or is at risk of inhaling meconium.
If a doctor waits too long to recommend a C-section, despite clear evidence that it is the safer option, the infant can suffer in a variety of ways. They may go without oxygen while in distress, leading to cerebral palsy and other disorders that can impact their development for the rest of their lives. They can also pass and inhale meconium, putting them at risk of a serious infection. In some cases, failure to do a C-section in a timely manner can be fatal to the baby.
Failed Instrumental Birth
Instrumental births involve the use of vacuum extraction or forceps. They can be extraordinarily risky to both mothers and babies. But they often allow for a vaginal birth if the baby has already entered the birth canal.
A doctor who attempts an instrumental birth without the proper experience or technique can seriously injure mother, baby, or both. For example, improper use of vacuum extraction can cause Erb’s palsy, brachial plexus injuries, brain bleeds, brain damage, or skull fractures in infants.
Improper use of forceps during delivery can cause brain hemorrhages, damage to facial nerves, swelling of the head, damage to the eyes or other facial structures, and brain damage to infants.
What to Do If Your Baby Has Suffered a Birth Injury
Birth injuries are often tremendously expensive. Those that require lifelong and very expensive care because even a bone fracture can be very costly to treat when working with a baby.
If your care provider made medical mistakes during your baby’s birth, you may be able to hold them accountable and seek compensation with a medical malpractice claim. Medical malpractice claims are complicated and several elements must be present for a successful claim. That’s why it’s important to work with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer in Sandusky.
To discuss your case and your baby’s injuries in greater detail, schedule a free consultation with Kademenos, Wisehart, Hines, Dolyk & Wright Co., LPA now. Fill out our online contact form or call (419) 625-7770 to get started.