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Injuries may occur anytime before, during labor and delivery, or immediately after a baby is born. Birth injuries can be severe and sometimes leave the baby with lifelong disabilities. Birth injuries are not entirely preventable, however, when doctors successfully care for their patients and avoid careless, negligent mistakes, the risk of a birth injury can be significantly reduced.
Prenatal Care
The first step to protecting a baby from birth injuries is ensuring the mother’s prenatal health is optimal. In addition to the mother’s overall health, any medical conditions she may have could have a major impact on her baby’s health. Doctors perform several prenatal tests that help indicate if the mother has any conditions that could put a baby at risk.. Some of the conditions that are concerning include:
- Fetal Macrosomia
- Polyhydramnios
- Placenta Abruption
- Maternal Infections
- Preeclampsia
- Gestational Diabetes
- Oligohydramnios
Prenatal tests also help identify any problems the fetus may be suffering from. This could include abnormal heart rates, intrauterine growth restrictions, or issues with the umbilical cord.
Are There Any Birth Injuries That Can Be Prevented?
With the use of proper care, birth injuries that are a result of a doctor or medical professional’s negligence can typically be prevented. Some of the most common medical malpractice-related birth injuries include:
Cerebral Palsy – This injury typically occurs when a doctor’s negligence affects the baby’s ability to move and maintain posture. Failure to diagnose or treat any infections during pregnancy can also result in the child developing cerebral palsy.
Brachial Paralysis (Erb’s Palsy) – This is typically a result of abnormal or difficult labor that causes weakness or paralysis in the arm. Brachial paralysis could result from damage to the baby’s shoulder nerves due to excessive pulling, or the failure to recognize the labor would become complicated.
Facial Paralysis – Too much pressure on the baby’s facial nerve can result in paralysis. Depending on the severity of the damage, surgery may be required for treatment.
Contact a Birth Injury Lawyer Today
Even when prepared, not all birth injuries are preventable. If you have a child suffering from a medical malpractice-related birth injury, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Contact a skilled attorney here at Warner Law Offices, PLLC, right away to discuss the details of your case with a professional who can give insight on any legal options you may have moving forward.
Call our firm today at 304-345-6789 or visit us online to schedule your free consultation.
