Illinois couples that are expecting a child have a lot on their plate. Plans are made for the arrival of the child, classes are taken to better understand the process of birth, rooms are painted, furniture is purchased, clothes are bought, and diapers are stockpiled. Some parents may even start a college fund or perhaps begin considering what preschool they'll attend.
Expecting parents have a lot of stress and, in some unfortunate cases, birth injuries add to that. A birth injury can occur to the child of any parent, regardless of extensive preparation. Usually no matter how prepared parents are, one doctor or nurse error can shatter everything. Some forms of birth injury include shoulder dystocia, hyperbilirubinemia, umbilical cord issues and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Each of these is different and may require some explaining.
Shoulder dystocia occurs when a newborn's shoulder gets lodged behind the pelvis of the mother during delivery. This can cause severe nerve damage and may result in neck or spinal cord injuries if not addressed properly. In some cases, shoulder dystocia has been associated with cerebral palsy. Physicians should be ready for this issue and know how to take care of it, but in some cases, inappropriate pressure may be used and more damage can be done.
Hyperbilirubinemia is a condition where there is too much bilirubin in a newborn's bloodstream. If a physician does not realize this and fails to treat it, brain damage can occur.
Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy results from a newborn experiencing hypoxia, a lack of oxygen. Causes of hypoxia can include a physician's failure to deliver a child properly by missing signs of fetal distress. Brain damage can occur as a result.
If a child is injured during the birthing process due to a medical professional's negligence, the family of that child can file a medical malpractice claim. Compensation from a medical malpractice claim can work to not only aid in the ensuing medical bills, but give the family a sense of justice in the face of an error as well.
Source: Injury Lawyer News, "Medical Negligence or Malpractice Can Cause Brain Damage in Newborns," Tracy Ray, Aug. 11, 2012
