Child Birth Injury in Chattanooga, TN

As cliche as it can sound, children are the future. They represent all that we hope to accomplish but may not have the time to enjoy.

When people learn they are going to be parents they begin to envision what their lives will be like with their children; playing catch, going to recitals, walking their child down the aisle. What they never imagine is having to cope with an injury the child received due to negligent treatment or medical malpractice.  If your child has sustained injuries during childbirth, you may want to contact and engage the services of an experienced Chattanooga attorney.

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 Chattanooga, TN.

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 Chattanooga 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.

Many of the injuries that can occur during the birthing process, some estimate over 90%, can be avoided if both family and medical team are properly educated and take the responsibility of bringing the child into the world seriously.

Education and triton are vital for mother and child, and vital for the medical team to perform at their best. To this end, Parkridge Health in Chattanooga offers a variety of childbirth and child rearing classes to help those who are starting a family.

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

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

Femur Fracture

Sage Journal states that you can have an occurrence during childbirth where a child’s femur is fractured upon delivery, although the journal does include that this has become more and more rare over the years. Fractures in infants generally occur when the medical staff has used too much force to remove the child from the birth canal during a difficult delivery. It is important to set an infant femur fracture correctly, as failing to do so could result in compartment syndrome.

Preeclampsia

The Mayo Clinic states that Preeclampsia is a serious, and if left untreated, potentially fatal condition affecting both mother and child. Symptoms surrounding preeclampsia involve high blood pressure, loss of vision, pain in the upper abdomen on the right side, and difficulty breathing due to fluid in the lungs. If a mother develops preeclampsia, early delivery of the cold is almost always recommended.

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 Chattanooga, 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 March of Dimes records that the infant mortality rate in Tennessee has dropped by more than 12% from 2009 to 2019. Still, Chattanooga residents should know that the rate remains much higher than the national average. The current infant mortality rate in Tennessee is 7.0 infant deaths per every 1,000 live births. If you or a loved one has experienced an injury during childbirth, you may want to seek the counsel of an experienced attorney in Chattanooga.

Work With an Experienced Local Child Birth Injury Lawyer in Chattanooga, Tennessee 

If you suspect child birth injury medical malpractice in Chattanooga, 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 Tennessee 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!

How It All Works

Call us or answer the questions on this site. Your category, location, and additional information will help us connect you to a legal professional and we’ll send you the results instantly.

Which Areas of Law?

We have attorneys in over 20 legal categories to choose from.

How Much Does This Cost?

We don’t charge you to be connected. Some legal categories require upfront fees while others do not. The legal professional will determine this with you before you commit to anything.