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3,667,758. That is the number of births that took place in America in 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The vast majority of those babies come into the world healthy and ready to thrive. However, every one of those infants is vulnerable to a variety of injuries that can occur during the labor and delivery process. Newborns are extremely fragile, and a misstep by the very same medical professionals who are tasked with caring for them can lead to injury. Those missteps can result in a debilitating injury that can last a lifetime.
If your newborn has suffered from a birth injury that could have been prevented, you may have a right to seek compensation. That compensation can provide much-needed medical care and treatment that will extend beyond your baby’s hospital stay. In order to obtain that level of compensation, you need to have a dedicated Louisville birth injury lawyer on your side.
The attorneys at McCoy & Hiestand, PLC understand the emotional weight of these types of claims. We provide the support and guidance that families need to get through the process. Our goal is to always do what’s right for our clients.
Types of Birth Injuries
Sadly, negligent actions can lead to a long list of birth injuries. Here are some of the most common of these injuries:
- Bone fractures
- Meconium aspiration
- Fetal oxygen deprivation
- Hypoxia (Lack of oxygen in the brain)
- Brain injuries
- Nerve damage
- Cerebral palsy
- Spinal cord injuries
- Brachial plexus injuries
- Erb’s palsy
- Klumpke paralysis
- Facial paralysis
- Lacerations or bruising
Any one of these injuries can manifest in a lifelong need for special care. That care affects how a child develops and learns. The injuries can also put a strain on the family’s finances and emotional well-being. This is why these types of injuries need to be addressed.
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How Birth Injuries Happen
Modern medical technology allows doctors to monitor a baby’s progress throughout pregnancy. That technology helps them prepare for potential complications. It is important to note that not all complications during childbirth are preventable. Even with the best care, there can still be problems with the delivery that results in an injury. However, there are instances when negligent doctors, obstetricians, and gynecologists get things wrong, and that leads to an injury that is preventable. These are the situations you need to discuss with a qualified Louisville birth injury lawyer.
Here are some of the ways that injuries can occur due to negligence during the birthing process:
- The misuse of forceps or a vacuum
- A failure to perform an emergency C-section when warranted
- Failing to recognize maternal distress
- Not recognizing umbilical cord misplacement
- Inability to recognize and handle a breech birth
- Lack of follow-up care after delivery
Types of Obstetrical Emergencies
Proper prenatal care prepares the expectant mother for the delivery process. Even with the best of care, there can still be obstetrical emergencies during labor that require a thorough diagnosis and rapid response. Here are some examples of these emergencies that could lead to a birth injury:
Shoulder Dystocia
This occurs when a baby’s shoulders wedge in the pelvis after the baby’s head is born. It is a serious situation that requires the birth team to act quickly to release the baby’s shoulder so that the baby can be born.
Prolapsed Umbilical Cord
During labor, the umbilical cord could fall down into the vagina before the baby is born. If that happens, the cord could be squeezed between the baby’s head and the mother’s pelvis. That can lead to the oxygen flow to the baby being cut off. In this situation, an emergency cesarean is recommended, which carries its own set of complications.
Rupture of the Uterus
It is common with women who have had previous caesareans or surgery for fibroids to experience a rupture of the uterus. That can compromise the health of the baby and mother.
Amniotic Fluid Embolism
This happens when fluid moves from the amniotic sac through blood vessels in the womb and ends up in the mother’s blood. When that occurs, it can set off a chain reaction of severe allergic reactions. This is extremely rare, which can make it a challenge to recognize and react to.
Getting Support from McCoy & Hiestand, PLC to Prove Negligence
Sustaining a birth injury due to negligence is considered an instance of medical malpractice. It is also a situation that is emotionally complex and challenging to establish. You’ve put your trust in a doctor to help bring your baby into the world, but that doesn’t make the doctor infallible. They should be held responsible if they fail to diagnose or respond to a complication.
The Louisville birth injury attorneys at McCoy & Hiestand, PLC can provide the support and guidance to help you navigate this very complex type of case. We rely on a group of medical professionals to help assess the evidence and help draw conclusions that could stand up in a lawsuit. The process begins with a free case evaluation. You can call our offices today to set up that discussion. Getting answers is the first step towards finding relief.
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Contact a Birth Injury Lawyer in Louisville Now
Your child deserves the best start in life. If a doctor, nurse, or other health care worker robbed them of that, you and your family may have legal recourse. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more about your options for protecting your child.
