Child Birth Injury in Anchorage, AK

The U.S. Census states that over 106,000 families that call Anchorage home. Many of them can recount the moment they became a family; when their children were born. They can tell every detail of the day, and how time seemed to stop when they held their child for the first time.

Unfortunately, some parents are caught in scenarios where their child is injured during delivery due to malpractice or negligence. If you have experienced this, you may want to seek the counsel of an experienced and engaged attorney in Anchorage.

What Causes a Childbirth Injury?

Was a medical professional you trusted negligent and did damage occur as a result? If so, affected parents have a chance of bringing a medical malpractice lawsuit for compensation in Anchorage, AK.

During any labor and delivery process, timing and action are two crucial elements. Sometimes an infant suffers a birth injury. It can mean that a medical practitioner either made a poor judgment call or failed to act appropriately. If the Anchorage medical provider’s actions go against the standard of care, then it may fit the legal definition of negligence.

To prove birth injury, negligence must have a direct connection to the damage. One of the most unfortunate elements of childbirth injury is not discovering the effects right away. Some injuries are discernible immediately after they happen. However, things that affect the brain may not be evident until developmental milestones are not reached.

There are times when injuries suffered at childbirth don’t just affect the individual, but the whole family unit. The Anchorage Daily News states that Izabel Acker suffered seizures at birth due to a rough delivery process, and a rushed C-section. However, the authorities accused her parents of abuse, and attempted to take the child from her family. The medical diagnosis of traumatic birth and C-section was finally confirmed by two independent doctors, and the family cleared by a forensic psychologist.

Beyond this, there are quite a few scenarios that may cause a child to sustain an injury while being born in Anchorage. One of the following examples may apply to your circumstances.

• Improper Vacuum Usage

Sometimes a mother has difficulties delivering a baby through the birth canal. Anchorage medical professionals may intervene and use a vacuum to assist. This machine is a standard instrument that can help suction the baby down and out of the birth canal. The vacuum attaches to the baby’s head or shoulders. Nurses and doctors are responsible for placing it appropriately. However, sometimes the vacuum is not attached where it should be. This error can cause severe injury to the mother and the infant during childbirth.

• Improper Use of Forceps

There are other options when a mother is having difficulty delivering her child. For example, the baby can be improperly positioned in the womb.

In this case, attending medical professionals may use forceps to help move a baby through the birthing canal. Appropriate use of forceps reduces oxygen deprivation. This tool also reduces the chances of fetal distress that can result in birth injuries.

The medical professionals that are birthing a child must use extreme care. The improper use of forceps can cause severe injuries to the head. Additionally, this device can also cause nerve damage in the neck or the chest.

• Hypoxia

Hypoxia is a medical condition that occurs when the brain of a baby is not receiving enough oxygen. The most common cause before and during delivery is the umbilical cord becoming tangled around the baby’s neck.

This condition often occurs due to a damaged or infected placenta. Thankfully, most Anchorage, Alaska medical professionals can identify hypoxia well in advance. As a result, they can intercede to eliminate the chances of the infant or the mother facing harm.

However, if the professional medical staff does not take action quickly enough, asphyxiation may occur. This can result in causing a child to develop severe physical or mental disabilities. Accordingly, medical staff may be liable for any damages that happened.

• Cesarean Section Delay

An emergency C-section may be necessary due to the infant’s fetal distress. This medical event occurs when the heartbeat of the infant drops because of the mother’s blood pressure. In addition, this condition can happen when there is a placental abruption or other breathing difficulties.

In truth, there are several reasons why a doctor may perform a C-section. For example, the baby could be in the wrong position or fail to descend into the birth canal. Another qualifying situation is when the mother has labored without dilation.

In these and other circumstances, the doctor may determine whether this procedure needs to happen. It may be the only way to safely birth the baby without further damage. But, the medical staff may wait too long to perform a cesarean. If so, the consequences for mother and child could be quite grave.

What Are Some Other Possible Causes of Childbirth Injury in Anchorage?

Other types of medical neglect that could result in injuries to the child or the birth mother include:

• Failing to perform sufficient prenatal testing
• Not using labor-inducing drugs timely
• Failing to diagnose or treat infections, umbilical cord entrapment, placental abruption, premature rupture of the membranes or placenta previa
• Not addressing changes in the baby’s condition

Clavicle Fracture

Among the most common of infant injuries at the time of birth, the National Library of Medicine confirms that clavicle fractures are generally the result of a long and difficult birth, when there is too much or improper force applied to remove the child from the birth canal. These fractures occur at a rate of 15 per every 1,000 live births. The clavicle is also very easily broken when trying to vaginal deliver a breech birth.

Cephalopelvic Disproportion

The National Library of Medicine states that cephalopelvic disproportion occurs when there is a mismatched difference between the size of a child’s head, and the size of the mother’s pelvis. When this occurs, it creates an obvious obstruction resulting in a labor that fails to progress. If left untreated, this endangers both the life of the mother and the child.

Why Should You Take Action for Your Child Birth Injury?

It is essential that any parent whose child has been diagnosed with a birth injury in Anchorage, take action to seek financial compensation. The most practical reason to pursue a childbirth injury lawsuit is to protect your financial future. A child and their mother may have to deal with a lifetime of setbacks and disabilities. The costs for treatment, medical equipment, and medications can overwhelm your budget quickly. As well, the trajectory of your life or your child’s can depend on pursuing civil action.

The CDC lists the infant mortality rate for those living in Alaska at 5 infant deaths per every 1,000 live births. As certain indigenous populations have been underserved at times, the March of Dimes also releases these statistics by race. If you or your child has been injured during the birth process, you may want to reach out to an experienced attorney in Anchorage.

Work With an Experienced Local Child Birth Injury Lawyer in Anchorage, Alaska 

If you suspect child birth injury medical malpractice in Anchorage, you should take action. Find a local child birth injury lawyer to navigate the often difficult waters of birth injury lawsuits. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Alaska state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!