Having a child is a momentous and joyful time in a person’s life. It’s common to be nervous for the birthing process, but mothers put their trust in their medical team to take care of them and their baby. However, if one of the members on the medical team acts negligently or recklessly, they can put the lives of the mother and baby at risk. When there are complications during pregnancy or delivery, the baby may suffer injuries that will affect him or her for the rest of their life. If medical negligence led to your child’s injuries, our skilled Peru birth injury lawyer may be able to get you the answers and compensation your child needs.
When your child suffers from a birth injury, they may need immediate medical care. However, they may also require continued medical care and other accommodations for the rest of their lives in order to maintain a high quality of life. New parents may feel overwhelmed at the emotional trauma of knowing their child was injured, and may have a lifetime of medical bills. The attorneys from Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP will fight for you to get full and fair compensation for your child’s wrongful injuries that will provide for their long-term care costs.
How Do Birth Injuries Happen?
The Illinois Department of Public Health says that injuries are a preventable disease. While many deliveries may happen smoothly, the medical professionals caring for you may make mistakes that harm your baby.
When our birth injury attorneys are working for you, we’ll review your medical records to look for evidence of negligence. Our firm will also consult the professional opinions of the appropriate medical experts to prove your case. They will work to establish that the medical professional’s actions were inappropriate and in violation of the standard of care.
Doctors that don’t follow correct procedures can fail to recognize signs that something is wrong with the mother or baby, or fail to keep a careful watch on the mother and baby’s heart rate which could cause a birth injury. Here are some of the ways birth injuries could happen during delivery:
- Improper tool use. Sometimes, doctors need to use tools to help with the delivery process. One type of tool is called forceps. This instrument can guide the child through the birth canal. However, when used incorrectly, the baby may suffer from nerve injuries in their head and upper body. Another instrument is a vacuum, which can also harm the baby when doctors aren’t careful.
- Hypoxia. During the birthing process, the delivery team needs to make sure the baby is able to breathe. When the baby isn’t getting oxygen to the brain, they could suffer from hypoxia. Doctors need to recognize signs of hypoxia and stop it from progressing.
- Caesarean section issues. When issues arise during the labor process, the delivery team may need to decide to do an emergency C-section. They need to be able to recognize the signs that would indicate this procedure is necessary, such as hypoxia, a prolapsed umbilical cord, the mother is hemorrhaging, a uterine rupture, or issues with the placenta. Waiting too long to do a C-section could put the mother and baby’s lives at risk.
Birth injuries can also occur if the mother doesn’t receive proper care during pregnancy. For example, an expecting mother may have preeclampsia, a condition that causes high blood pressure. This condition goes away after the baby is born, but the baby may not be close to term yet. The doctor may need to give the mother medicine to help lower her blood pressure and prevent seizures so no harm comes to the mother or the baby. The mother could also have gestational diabetes. When a woman is pregnant and has high blood sugar levels, there’s a chance that they will have a bigger baby, which can make delivery more complicated and injuries are more likely in difficult births. The doctor need to recognize these possibilities and take measures to prevent injury.
Having a difficult pregnancy or delivery process can be traumatic. You’re dealing with the intense emotions of bringing a child into the world and suddenly have to worry about your child’s health and well-bring. Our experienced Peru birth injury lawyer has helped families get justice for their child and is familiar with the negligent actions that can lead to birth injuries.
What Types of Birth Injuries Can Occur?
While some birth injuries may heal over time, some result in permanent damage. Here are some examples of the birth injuries that can happen when a delivery team fails to keep your baby safe:
- Cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy, or CP, can occur when the infant suffers from lack of oxygen to their brain, resulting in damage that can affect motor functions. Those with CP can have stiff muscles, uncontrollable movement, or trouble with balance. If the damage is severe, the child may need medical equipment that will help them remain mobile.
- Brachial plexus injury. During a difficult delivery, the infant’s shoulder may get stuck in the pelvic area, referred to as shoulder dystocia. When this happens, the infant could suffer from a brachial plexus injury. The brachial plexus is the nerve group in the upper shoulder. When these nerves sustain damage, the infant may have limited movement in their upper arm, which can also be referred to as Erb’s palsy. Klumpke’s palsy is the limited movement of the infant’s lower arm and hand.
- Traumatic brain injury. In addition to lack of oxygen, an infant can suffer brain damage if their head is compressed for a long time during the birthing process, or a doctor can cause trauma from improperly using forceps.
- Broken bones. If an infant is in a difficult position during birth, they may suffer from broken bones.
No matter the type of injury, it’s terrifying and heartbreaking to know your child was hurt in their first moments of life. But you can seek help to get justice for you and your child.
Our Peru, IL Firm Has Helped Families Recover
The birth injury lawyers at Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP have helped Illinois citizens hold negligent people, such as doctors, medical professionals, and hospitals, accountable for the harm they’ve caused. We’ll fight to get compensation so that you will be able to care for your child.
To get started on your case, simply call our firm today and schedule a consultation. Our attorneys in Peru are ready to answer your questions and start working to help you get answers and a resolution either through jury trial or settlement. You deserve to have financial peace of mind so you can focus on what really matters—your child’s well-being.
