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Birth injuries usually have long-term consequences

On Behalf of | Dec 9, 2020 | Birth Injuries

Top-tier medical treatment can be reassuring to parents going through childbirth. Conversely, poor treatment can be devastating, particularly when the medical team made a mistake that caused birth injuries to the child or mother.

The medical staff is supposed to protect the health and wellbeing of the child and mother. However, mistakes can occur when medical staff improperly operate such delivery instruments as vacuums or forceps. Other common errors include cutting the umbilical cord too early, thus depriving the child of oxygen, or failing to perform a C-section at the appropriate time for protecting mother and child.

Common signs of injury to the baby

Rather than facilitating a safe and healthy delivery, the staff’s mistakes can cause irreparable birth injury to the child or mother. It may not always be apparent that the medical staff made a mistake, so parents and their pediatricians should check for a variety of signs:

  • Indentations or depressions in the head
  • A swelled head
  • Undue amounts of drooling
  • Asymmetrical body movements
  • Asymmetrical facial expressions
  • Trouble seeing or hearing
  • Trouble swallowing or eating
  • Seizures, shaking limbs or spasms

Severe consequences are possible

It is unfortunate that children may subsequently live the rest of their lives with the physical or cognitive consequences of these medical errors. Mothers can also suffer irreparable damage to their bodies, possibly preventing her from giving birth to more children.

Victims often forced to take legal action

Victims or their families should seek all necessary medical care they need in tragic cases like these. They may also need to file a medical malpractice suit against the medical team and their employer to help offset the costs related to the injury as well as pain and suffering endured by the family. Those experiencing tragic events like this often need to contact a personal injury attorney specializing in medical malpractice. These legal professionals can often provide the best chance of securing the compensation that the family needs.

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