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Events during labor and delivery can result in a number of
problems in the newborn infant. These problems, formerly referred
to as “birth defects,” are these days more accurately
known as birth injuries. Birth injuries can be mild, disappearing
in a few days or weeks. However, more serious birth injuries
can last the entire lifetime of the child.
One of the major causes of birth injuries is a reduction in
oxygen to the child during labor, which can result in severe
neurologic injuries, paralysis, blindness and seizures. Unborn
children are more resistant than older children, or adults,
to the effects of a reduction in oxygen. Accordingly, there
are often signs of developing problems on the fetal monitor,
or the passage of meconium (the baby’s bowel movement),
that can give the doctors or nurses time to act, to increase
the oxygen to the baby, or intervene to quickly deliver the
child before any permanent damage is done.
Also, there could be an infection present, especially if the
labor goes on for a long period of time. Sometimes, the baby
is too large for the birth canal, which can also cause injury
or neurologic damage (especially if forceps are used) or damage
to a nerve in the baby’s arm.
Sometimes, medications are used to “speed up”
the labor, which, if used to excess, can harm the child. Multiple
pregnancies (i.e., twins or triplets) are generally considered
high-risk. Over the last decade, attempted VBAC deliveries
(attempted vaginal birth after a prior Caesarean section)
have been encouraged, as a cheaper alternative to a repeat
Caesarean section. However, the incidence of uterine rupture,
and resulting catastrophic injury to the mother and her unborn
child, is much higher, and the true risks of a VBAC delivery
may not be spelled out clearly to the expectant parents.
Because of the risks to the child and mother in the labor
and delivery process, it is essential that the physicians
and/or nurses involved in the delivery continuously attend
to and monitor the condition and status of the mother and
her child. Unfortunately, health care providers sometimes
don’t do the job they promised they would do. Evidence
of fetal distress is sometimes unrecognized or ignored. Long
periods of time sometimes elapse between evaluations by the
labor and delivery nurses. Signs of uterine rupture during
an attempted VBAC can be ignored. Ominous fetal heart patterns
are characterized as not worrisome. Nurses can be inexperienced
and inadequately trained to handle the assessments, care and
treatment which they are required to possess in this most
important time in a new human being’s life.
When the worst happens, and a child is catastrophically injured,
the response by the nurses or doctors unfortunately all too
often is “We have no idea what happened,” or “It
was just one of those things.” Some unknown genetic
syndrome is often blamed, or a “silent” prenatal
“infection” or some other unknown event before
labor started is given as a cause.
Sometimes this may be true, but all too often catastrophic
lifetime damage to a child occurs because someone didn’t
do their job. The only way to know once and for all what caused
serious injuries to your child is to have the information
and records reviewed by experienced and knowledgeable legal
counsel and his experts.
Our evaluation is thorough, comprehensive and without cost
or obligation.
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