Child Birth Injury in Cincinnati, OH

Most people dream of holding their child in their arms, and everything that comes with that moment. When you hold a child in your arms, it is like you are holding the future. And yet, some people feel robbed of their future if their child has been injured during the delivery process due to gross negligence or medical malpractice. If you have gone through such a scenario you may want to reach out to an experienced attorney in Cincinnati.

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 Cincinnati, OH.

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 Cincinnati 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.

Cincinnati Children’s documents the story of Benjamin Gaya, a child who was born with a brachial plexus injury after a difficult delivery. After years worth of multiple surgeries and rehabilitations, Ben is finally living a normal life. However, the expense and care for the child has been exorbitant. If your child has experienced an injury during childbirth, you should not bear the financial burden alone. An experienced Cincinnati attorney can help you press your rights and fight for your child.

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

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.

Maternal Nutrition

Poor dietary decisions can have an increasingly bad effect on both mother and child, according to UNICEF. Iodine, iron, calcium, and zinc are all heavily required by both parties during a pregnancy to make sure that optimal health is achieved. Anemia, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes can all be brought on by poor nutrition. In addition, you run the risk of a child undergoing low birth weight, developmental delays, or even being stillborn.

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 Cincinnati, 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 states that the infant mortality rate in Ohio dropped by 10% between 2009 and 2019. However, the rate is still higher than many other states, standing at 6.9 infant deaths in the neonatal stage per every 1,000 live births. If you or your child has sustained an injury during childbirth, you may want to seek the counsel of an experienced attorney in Cincinnati.

Work With an Experienced Local Child Birth Injury Lawyer in Cincinnati, Ohio 

If you suspect child birth injury medical malpractice in Cincinnati, 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 Ohio 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!