Birth Injury Secrets The Doctors Don't Want You To Know About

In the U.S., seven of every 1,000 infants are born with a birth injury. Furthermore, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are about 587 deaths per 100,000 live births. Some of these families who have suffered these traumatic experiences don’t realize their medical provider may have been negligent during pregnancy or the delivery of their baby.

A world turned upside down

Many families eagerly plan for the future during nine months of pregnancy to discover their worlds suddenly are turned upside down. A baby injured either during pregnancy or the childbirth process could now have a potentially permanent disability and have ongoing medical needs. Doctors don't want you to know this, but a number of injuries are grounds for a malpractice lawsuit.

• Loss of oxygen during the birth process leading to a traumatic brain injury.
• Brachial plexus, a nerve injury affecting the nerves in the spinal cord that connect to the neck, arms, and shoulders, resulting from a difficult birth.
• Cephalohematoma, a condition where pooling of blood occurs on the skull; usually resolves itself but sometimes has serious complications.
• Cerebral Palsy, which can be caused by infections during pregnancy, premature birth, lack of oxygen during birth, or undiagnosed Rh blood disease.
• Erb’s palsy, damage in a baby’s arm or hand nerves, a result of a difficult birth.
• Broken bones or fractures occurring during delivery.
• Lacerations, bruising, or forceps marks made on an infant’s head or face during delivery.

The reality is these birth injuries, and some others may have been preventable through the proper diagnosis of a mother’s health situation or better delivery decisions made by the doctor. For example, in some cases, a c-section would have been a better delivery option due to the baby’s position, size or other health factors, to avoid injuries occurring during childbirth.

Maternal deaths are on the rise

Maternal injuries during pregnancy and delivery are also a sad, but common occurrence. In December 2018, National Geographic reported 60 percent of maternal deaths in the U.S. are preventable. A March 2109 USA Today article reporting on their investigation found too many “deadly deliveries” are occurring in the U.S. and uncovered “a stunning lack of attention to safety recommendations”, along with “widespread failure” in protecting new mothers.

Malpractice secrets doctors don't want you to know

If your family suffered any kind of birth-related trauma due to negligence, did you know there is recourse to help you take care of your baby’s needs? It may be hard to tell a stranger your story, but it’s important to seek legal consultation as soon as possible. Negligent providers often look to shift blame on unforeseen factors or events beyond their control to avoid malpractice lawsuits. The reality is a number of birth injuries are preventable. Doctors don’t want you to know this, but grounds for a lawsuit include misdiagnosis of a mother or child’s medical condition, negligence in prenatal care, childbirth, or post-partum care, mistakes in prescribing or administering medications, surgical errors, premature delivery, or physical injury to an infant during delivery, inappropriate use of birthing tools, to name a few malpractice events.

If you’re hesitant to talk to an attorney after developing a relationship with your doctor during your pregnancy, this is normal. But remember, a hospital, doctor, or other healthcare providers always arm themselves with attorneys. Your and your baby's rights should be protected too.

At the Stone Law Firm, we speak for victims, survivors, and others who have been wronged. The firm’s roots in Georgia date back to 1915 when Wm. Lowery Stone began his firm to protect the rights of injured families like yours. The Stone Law Firm has continued the tradition of standing up for families who have experienced the traumatic experience of a birth injury in Atlanta and nationwide since 2002.