Child Birth Injury in Badger, AK

Are you struggling to handle the financial aftermath of a childbirth injury?

According to Body Nest, Alaska has the third-highest childbirth costs in the United States. This fact is bad enough, but the additional costs of a botched delivery can overwhelm you in a hurry. Moreover, there is severe emotional turmoil that you have to handle.

While a lawsuit may not change the past, it can ease your burdens and protect your family’s future. Uncover if hiring a lawyer and filing a civil action is in your best interests in the following sections.

What Causes a Childbirth Injury?

Did your family suffer the consequences of neglect by a medical professional? If so, you may have an opportunity to begin a medical malpractice lawsuit for compensation in Badger, AK.

The timing of medical interventions are critical during labor and delivery. Even the slightest error can cause a mother or infant to suffer from a birth injury. This avoidable event could be the result of poor judgment or improper technique. Furthermore, if the Badger medical provider’s actions go against the standard of care, it may represent negligence.

Proving a birth injury in court means having the evidence to make a direct connection to the damage inflicted. The problem and its effects may not show up immediately. Even more frightening is the idea that issues in the brain may not show until a child doesn’t meet developmental milestones.

Outside stressors can also impact the quality of obstetrics care near Badger. For instance, the Associated Press reports that pregnancy-related deaths increased because of the pandemic. Even more frightening is that maternal deaths have tripled since the late 1980s.

Beyond this, there are quite a few scenarios that may cause a child to sustain an injury while being born in Badger. 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. Badger medical professionals may intervene and use a vacuum to assist.

This machine is a standard instrument that suctions the baby down and out of the birth canal. The vacuum attaches to the baby’s head or shoulders. Accordingly, nurses and doctors are responsible for placing it appropriately.

However, sometimes the vacuum is not attached to an appropriate location. This error can cause severe injury to the mother and the infant during childbirth.

• Improper Use of Forceps

Obstetricians may use forceps to pull a baby through the birth canal. This tool often gets employed when the infant is in an improper position in the womb.

The appropriate application of this tool can reduce oxygen deprivation. It can also reduce fetal stress and the likelihood of birth injuries. However, medical professionals have to use extreme care to avoid causing problems. There are many documented cases of improper use causing nerve damage in the neck or chest.

• Hypoxia

Hypoxia happens when a baby’s brain does not receive enough oxygen. Generally, it happens before or during delivery due to the umbilical cord wrapping around the infant’s neck. But it can also be the result of an infection in the placenta. 

Badger, Alaska medical professionals can identify hypoxia before the condition worsens. As a result, they should have an opportunity to intervene before too much harm occurs. 

Nonetheless, if the medical team does not act quickly, asphyxiation can be the result. The consequences may include mental disabilities or severe physical concerns. In this scenario, the hospital or medical staff can be liable for the injuries.

• Cesarean Section Delay

An emergency C-section may be necessary due to the infant’s fetal distress. This medical event occurs when the heartbeat 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 circumstances, the doctor will decide whether this procedure is necessary. It may be the only way to 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 grave.

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

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

Kernicterus

Kernicterus is a prime example of an avoidable childbirth injury. Part of the reason it occurs is that it begins with jaundice. Medical staff can become accustomed to this condition because 60 – 80% of infants in the United States contract it. However, the buildup of bilirubin in the body can worsen and even lead to brain damage.

Fractures

Fractures during childbirth are rare, but they can be due to mistakes or malpractice. Nonetheless, this assertion may prove burdensome to prove in court. For instance, injuries to the clavicle can happen due to the infant’s birthing position.

Why Should You Take Action for Your Child Birth Injury?

Data from the CDC shows that Alaska has an infant mortality rate of 5.6 per 1,000 live births. This statistic places the state slightly below the national average. However, this distinction is not a positive sign. The United States has a significant problem in this area compared to other developed countries.

The most practical reason to take action to seek financial compensation is your financial future. You may have to face a lifetime of setbacks and disabilities. The costs of hospital bills, medical equipment, and medications can overwhelm you quickly. Therefore, the trajectory of your family’s life in Badger can depend on taking civil action.

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

If you suspect child birth injury medical malpractice in Badger, 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!