Most births are a joyful if painful experience. Unfortunately, about 2% of live births in the United States result in birth trauma injuries. These are injuries that can happen to the baby during the labor and delivery process. In some cases, these injuries result in serious injuries to the baby or mother or even permanent injuries.
If you or your baby have suffered an injury during the labor, pregnancy, or delivery process, contact a personal injury attorney. The attorneys at Flaxman Law Group are always standing by to listen to your concerns and to help you review your rights.
Why do Birth Trauma Injuries Happen in Hollywood and Florida?
Birth trauma can happen in almost any labor and delivery process. These injuries can include:
- Fractures
- Organ damage
- Meconium aspiration syndrome (injuries caused by the baby breathing in amniotic fluid or stool during delivery)
- Cuts and bruises
- Head injuries
- Injuries to the baby’s facial nerves (Bell’s palsy)
- Eye injuries
- Brachial palsy (injuries to the nerves that connect the limbs and spinal cord)
- Cerebral palsy (CP) and other conditions caused by oxygen deprivation
- Neck and shoulder injuries
- Caput succedaneum (swelling and bruising of the baby’s scalp)
- Cephalohematoma (a pooling of blood under the protective layer on a baby’s skull)
In addition to a range of injuries to the baby, injuries to the mother can also occur if doctors are not careful. To keep both baby and mother safe during labor and delivery, doctors are expected to monitor the situation and to respond appropriately to any risk factors or signs of problems.
Birth trauma injuries are especially common when a baby is heavy or too large for the mother’s pelvic wall. In these instances, doctors and medical professionals may use force or may use forceps or other medical instruments to assist with the birth process. If too much force is used or if medical devices are used incorrectly, serious injury can occur to the mother or child. In some instances, birth trauma injuries happen because a doctor makes the wrong choice about a difficult pregnancy. For example, a doctor may decide not to perform a C-section when this procedure would assist in safe delivery of the infant. In cases where negligence or recklessness leads to birth injury, families may have the option of pursuing a medical malpractice claim in Hollywood or their community.
What Should You Do if You Suspect Birth Trauma Injuries?
If you have given birth and have sustained injuries or have seen injuries affecting your child, you deserve honest answers. Unfortunately, hospitals and medical staff will sometimes move quickly to shift blame or to avoid medical malpractice lawsuits. If you suspect that negligence played a role in the injuries you or your baby have suffered, contact Flaxman Law Group at any time. Our team of attorneys has more than 60 years of combined experience in birth injuries, medical malpractice claims, and personal injury cases. We would be pleased to offer you a free accident consultation so that you can learn more about your situation and your rights.