Childbirth should be a joyous occasion, not one in which a mother or child suffers a serious injury due to the negligence of a trusted healthcare provider. Negligent doctors and other medical professionals rarely accept responsibility for such injuries because they are worried about the cost of their medical malpractice insurance going up and their professional reputation being damaged. This often means that the family of an injured child must undergo an extensive investigation to get to the bottom of what went wrong, which is usually the last thing they need when contemplating their child suffering a lifelong disability.
A caring Norristown birth injury lawyer from Morris Wilson Knepp Jacquette, P.C. can meet with you in a confidential setting to discuss your situation. Contact us today to learn more.
Birth Injuries Explained
Birth injuries are physical traumas that occur during labor and delivery, distinct from congenital defects, which are structural or functional abnormalities present at birth, such as heart defects, Down syndrome, or spina bifida. While congenital disabilities may be caused by genetics or environmental factors, birth injuries often occur due to the negligence of medical staff.
Common Maternal and Birth Injuries
Birth injuries can affect the mother and/or child when they do not receive adequate medical care. Mothers require consistent care to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Their health should be carefully monitored as it affects both the mother and child.
One of the most common maternal injuries is preeclampsia. This is a pregnancy-related complication in which the mother experiences high blood pressure and other symptoms. If the mother is not diagnosed correctly, she may suffer severe organ damage.
Another common maternal injury is hemorrhage. Many doctors use Pitocin to speed up the labor process, but it can cause rapid contractions that cause a mother to lose more blood than normal during childbirth.
Mothers can also be injured when they are unnecessarily subjected to cesarean sections. While this surgical procedure can become necessary if the infant is in distress, it is not always the safest option in other situations. Doctors could also inadvertently injure mothers if they make an improper decision or cut too deeply.
Newborns can also be injured during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. For example, they may suffer a brachial plexus injury, which involves the nerves responsible for shoulder, arm, and hand movement. These injuries sometimes occur due to shoulder dystocia when the newborn’s shoulder becomes caught in the mother’s pelvis and may require physical therapy and/or surgery.
Infants can also suffer traumatic head injuries if a healthcare provider does not use birth-assisting tools, such as forceps or vacuum extractors, correctly or uses excessive force when delivering the baby. Newborns can also suffer cerebral palsy if they suffer a serious head injury.
Contact Our Compassionate Norristown Birth Injury Lawyers for Help
If you or your child suffered any of the injuries described above due to a medical provider’s negligence, contact Morris Wilson Knepp Jacquette for a free consultation. There is no risk or obligation to you.