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During what is supposed to be one of the most joyous times of your life, there are a number of situations that can turn the excitement of pregnancy into a time of concern. Unfortunately, this is often the case when a medical professional acts in a negligent manner.
Far too often, there are various ways in which a medical professional can perform an act considered medical malpractice. When this occurs during a pregnancy, it is the mother and baby who can suffer serious harm due to an oversight.
When you experience any form of malpractice, it is important to understand what injuries may be sustained—by both mother and child—and what steps you can take to help in the event you need to file legal action against the negligent party.
Some of the most common birth injuries caused by malpractice include:
Call our firm at (505) 906-6774 today if your child suffered a birth injury due to malpractice.
To learn more about the above birth injuries, read on below.
Cerebral Palsy
One of the most common types of birth injuries sustained is cerebral palsy. This is a group of various disorders that typically appear within the early stages of a child’s life. There are a number of signs and symptoms that can indicate cerebral palsy.
- Spastic cerebral palsy affects roughly 80% of those who suffer from cerebral palsy. It typically results in the individual enduring muscle stiffness. There are three types of spastic cerebral palsy, including spastic diplegia, spastic hemiplegia, and spastic quadriplegia, all dictating the different parts of the body that are affected.
- Dyskinetic cerebral palsy result in the individual having difficulty with control of their limbs, as well as trouble sitting or walking. There are often uncontrollable and rapid movements caused by this type of cerebral palsy.
- Ataxic cerebral palsy involved difficulties with coordination and balance abilities. This can include problems with their control in their hands or arms when reaching for an item or person, as well as unsteadiness.
- Mixed cerebral palsy is also a possibility and is often the result of when the individual has more than one of the above listed types of cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy can be the result of brain damage, such as lack of oxygen to the brain during birth or through trauma. These can occur when a doctor fails to monitor the baby, prolongs labor and delivery, or creates a traumatic impact with the skull and brain during delivery.
Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
When a baby suffers from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), it causes a brain dysfunction stemming from a lack of oxygen to the brain and other vital organs. There is also a lack of blood flow that can create a number of issues.
Doctors must take special steps should they encounter any complications during pregnancy to prevent HIE. This can include umbilical cord accidents, prolonged labor, placental rupture, excessive bleeding, and abnormal fetal positioning.
Shoulder Dystocia
Doctors monitor babies throughout the course of the pregnancy to determine how well the vitals are, as well as helping to determine the size of the baby and ensure they can properly get through the birth canal during delivery.
When a baby is too big for the birth canal and the doctor tries to pull the baby out, the baby may suffer from shoulder dystocia, which can include nerve damage to the affected area. This can lead to light paralysis where the injury occurred, as well as the baby’s hand developing a claw-like appearance.
When a doctor’s negligence causes a birth injury, you need to recognize what steps need to be taken to protect the rights of your family. Raising a child with a burn injury can be strenuous and understanding the need for legal action is very important.
At James Wood Law, we work hard to help families after a birth injury caused by negligence. Our Albuquerque medical malpractice attorneys hold negligent medical professionals accountable for their actions because you deserve justice.
Call our firm at (505) 906-6774 today if your baby suffered harm due to the irresponsible actions of a medical professional during pregnancy or birth.