Child Birth Injury in Atlanta, GA

Very few people, if any, are ever truly prepared to be a parent.  Reading books, taking classes, asking advice from your parents and loved ones are all great things to do, but no one is ever fully prepared for how their lives will change once a child comes into the world.

Injuries during childbirth are not always the fault of the medical team. But if there has been incompetence or negligence at play, you should be well aware of your rights. If your child has been injured during childbirth, you may want to engage the services of an experienced attorney in Atlanta to help you press your rights.

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 Atlanta, GA.

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 Atlanta 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.

Rollins School of Public Health records the story of Page Rohe. Page had a difficult birth, her newborn’s arm becoming stuck behind her pelvic bone. The child was born with paralysis in her left arm, and Rohe believes that the doctors acted inappropriately during the delivery. She had high blood pressure, and despite working as a physician’s communication officer for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, her doctors did very little to educate her on the birthing process and what risks it might entail.

Beyond this, there are quite a few scenarios that may cause a child to sustain an injury while being born in Atlanta. 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. Atlanta 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 Atlanta, Georgia 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 Atlanta?

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

Sub-conjunctival Hemorrhage

The proper medical name for blood seeping into a child’s eye is a sub-conjunctival hemorrhage. The visual symptomology of this occurrence is characterized by red patches in the whites of a child’s eyes. This injury can be quite common, according to Childbirth Injuries, and does not always require medical intervention. Still, there are serious cases that need to be attended to. If left unchecked it can lead to permanent damage.

Perineal Laceration

The Mayo Clinic states that perineal lacerations, also referred to as vaginal tears, generally occur during the birthing process due to the size of the child’s head. When a child has a head that is too large for the vaginal opening, tearing can occur. However, there are also instances when a child has a normal head, but the vagina of the mother does not stretch easily. This can also result in tearing.

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 Atlanta, 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.

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, there were over 5,000 infant deaths in the four year span between 2007 and 2011. However, Atlanta residents should know that there has been a slight drop of 4% in infant deaths as of 2019, resulting in 7 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Injury to your child is a nightmare scenario. But it may be in your best interest to engage the services of an experienced Atlanta attorney if your child was injured in childbirth. He or she can help you navigate these processes and help enforce your child’s rights.

Work With an Experienced Local Child Birth Injury Lawyer in Atlanta, Georgia 

If you suspect child birth injury medical malpractice in Atlanta, 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 Georgia 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!