Child Birth Injury in Charleston, SC

Certain memories last a lifetime; first dates and special events can hold a permanent place in our minds. But very few memories compare to holding your child for the first time. That overwhelming sense of pride and love can stay with you forever.

However, this scenario can quickly turn sour if you, your child, or a loved one has been injured during the birthing process due to medical malpractice or negligence. If this is the case, you may want to contact an experienced attorney in Charleston to help you defend your loved ones and enforce 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 Charleston, SC.

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 Charleston 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.

Proper education and timely action is crucial when dealing with bringing a child into the world. Receiving false or deceptive information can be deadly. WCSC reports that a local woman was forced to give birth in her car on the way to the hospital because of bad information she received from a midwife. Amanda Myles was told by her midwife that she would labor roughly 12 hours after her water broke. When her water broke, and the contractions started to get very close together, she had her husband drive her to the hospital. Only now rush hour traffic had hit, and she delivered her baby in the car.

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

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

Brachial Plexus

According to the Children’s Hospital, brachial plexus injuries occur at a rate of about 3 in every 1,000 births. The brachial plexus is injured when the nerves are stretched or compressed during a difficult delivery. These injuries vary in seriousness, as well as recovery time. The nerves can be stretched, ruptured, or even experience an avulsion.

Failed Induction

The Mayo Clinic reports can bring a host of other problems to both mother and child. An induction is considered a failure if it does not result in a vaginal delivery within 24 hours. Certain methods of induction, such as rupturing the surrounding membranes, can lead to infection and even a low fetal heart rate. If an induction fails, a cesarean section or C-Section, is almost always necessary.

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 Charleston, 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 South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control reports a 7% drop in infant mortality from 2019 to 2020. The infant mortality rate currently stands at 6.5 infant deaths per every 1,000 live births. However, this is still above the national average, which is 5.58.

If you, your child, or your loved one has been injured during the childbirth process, you may want to engage the services of an experienced Charleston attorney.

Work With an Experienced Local Child Birth Injury Lawyer in Charleston, South Carolina 

If you suspect child birth injury medical malpractice in Charleston, 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 South Carolina 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!

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