When a mother is giving birth, she and her family hope that their child will be healthy when they’re born. The mother may have taken very good care of her health and gone to every required medical appointment, but there are still times when birth injuries can occur.
There are a few reasons that birth injuries could occur as the child is coming into the world. Here are three to keep in mind and what to do if your child is hurt as a result of them.
- Not monitoring for fetal distress
The birthing process has the potential to be traumatic. During labor and delivery, it’s important for the infant’s vital signs to be monitored. If the baby’s heart rate is too high or low or there are other signs of distress, an emergency C-section or other technique may need to be used to protect the child and delivery them safely.
Not monitoring for fetal distress could mean that any aid comes too late. This could result in a stillbirth or serious birth injuries.
- Using labor-inducing drugs
Sometimes, labor-inducing drugs can put a baby at risk of harm. For example, if the mother is given too much or is allergic to the medication, the infant could be left with hypoxia from a lack of oxygen getting to their brain or other damage to the nerves, spinal cord or bones.
- Forcing a delivery
Another issue that could lead to birth injuries is forcing the birth of the child. Forcing a vaginal birth could lead to complications if the mother is unable to birth her child that way. Using tools like forceps or a vacuum could cause injuries that have the potential to be life-altering.
These and other problems could lead to injuries during a baby’s birth. If your child is injured during labor or delivery, it’s valuable to look into your options. You may have a case against the medical provider or hospital for medical malpractice if there were mistakes made that led to serious injuries. The mother or another representative of the mother and child may have a claim that they can take to court.
