Content Reviewed by:
Dov Apfel
Content Reviewed by: Dov Apfel
Since 1979, Dov Apfel has been passionate about advocating for birth injury and medical malpractice victims. Mr. Apfel’s career-long record of achievements in birth injury litigation, education, and advocacy has been recognized by the Executive Board of the Birth Trauma Litigation Group of the American Association for Justice. His expertise is demonstrated by his numerous awards, presentations on birth injury topics at legal conferences for organizations like the AAJ and ATLA, and articles published by Trial Magazine and many others.
8 Birth Injury Facts Parents Must Know
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, most birth injuries are avoidable when appropriate care is available. And while some minor injuries to newborns may occur and can resolve without treatment, a birth injury is better defined as the structural destruction or functional deterioration of an infant’s body due to a traumatic event at birth. Here are eight additional facts you may not know about preventable birth injuries that could impact both mom and baby.
- Failure to perform an emergency cesarean section (c-section) can result in a severe birth injury to a newborn, including brain damage and cerebral palsy due to oxygen deprivation and lifelong injuries to the mother.
- A baby can appear weak or experience paralysis in a part or all of their arm and hand due to a troublesome delivery. In this case, one or both of the baby’s arms can be stretched and injure the brachial plexus’s nerves.
- Using forceps or a vacuum to force a fetus down from high in the birth canal is associated with a high risk of causing birth injury. Forceps used to assist the delivery can cause severe facial nerve injuries and noticeable when the newborn cries and the face appears lopsided.
- A mother and her baby can be at harm during the pre and post-natal stages as well, not just during labor and delivery. Around one-third of U.S. pregnancy-related deaths, counted up to one-year post birth, occur during pregnancy.
- Newborns with asphyxia may appear pale and lifeless, but internal injuries to the heart, lungs, brain, kidneys, liver, and blood systems may not be immediately recognized.
- A severe infection can cause preventable birth injuries in the fetus, exposure to certain drugs before birth, severe maternal bleeding, or an undiagnosed illness.
- Some labor induction methods, such as rupturing a mother’s membranes, might increase the risk of infection for both mother and baby.
- A medical professional must identify at-risk pregnancies and provide directions for proper care of the mother and her fetus.
A doctor might be responsible for the injury if they failed to identify and properly treat the signs of a challenging labor and delivery.
Moving Ahead with a Birth Injury Lawsuit in Illinois
The costs to diagnose and treat birth injuries can be astronomical, and many of the expenses may not be covered by health insurance. Additionally, the child o mother may need to have extended treatment or even lifelong care. For these reasons, it is necessary to seek legal guidance as soon as your family is ready.
A Chicago Birth Injury Attorney Can Help Your Family
The Illinois birth injury attorneys at Levin & Perconti have taken on every role in life and are uniquely positioned to understand parental worries and sensitive needs. We can be relied on to find answers, settle disputes, and earn you compensation for economic losses, physical and emotional damage to your quality of life, and even the lost life of a child. When you are ready, please do not hesitate to call us in Chicago at 312-332-2872 or toll-free at 877-374-1417.
