Child Birth Injury in Colorado Springs, CO

Has your family gone through a traumatic birth experience? Are you feeling overwhelmed by what may happen next?

Parents in Colorado Springs have a reasonable expectation of a safe delivery. Obstetricians have new tools and techniques to avoid easily preventable injuries. But, when mistakes happen, they can create costly and painful issues that last for a lifetime.

You do have to continue to pay for a medical professional’s mistakes. In fact, state or federal laws may entitle you to compensation. Relieve some of your stress today by reading this guide and making an educated decision about your legal options.

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 Colorado Springs, CO.

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 Colorado Springs 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.

Brain damage during delivery can lead to enormous financial, physical, and emotional costs. In 2017, Colorado Springs Indy reported that a jury handed down a $4 million judgment for this type of injury.

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

• Nerve Damage

Tearing or overstretching of an infant’s nerves is more expected during a strenuous live birth. As reported by Mondaq, the most common damage that results from this injury is facial paralysis or Erb’s Palsy.

Milder cases may resolve over time or with limited medical treatment. But, there can be long-term disabilities associated with nerve damage. Regardless of severity, you may have an entitlement to compensation from doctors in Colorado Springs.

• Cephalohematoma

A minor case of cephalohematoma is not unusual during childbirth in Colorado Springs. A baby’s skull is fragile, and the trauma of live birth can cause blood to accumulate under the scalp. This condition can develop in hours or up to days afterward.

The development of cephalohematoma can be the result of medical negligence in a hospital setting. As mentioned above, forceps can make this typically benign event more traumatic.

• Fractures

According to Verywell Health, a Cesarean delivery can help avoid many orthopedic injuries during childbirth. The reason is that a complicated vaginal birth can lead to excessive force on the infant. Moreover, their position in the womb can result in part of the body becoming stuck in tricky positions. Some of the most common areas that can become fractured in a Colorado Springs maternity ward are:

• Brachial plexus

• Growth plates

• Clavicles

• Femurs

What Are Some Other Possible Causes of Childbirth Injury in Colorado Springs?

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

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 Colorado Springs, 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.

Unfortunately, some aspects of childbirth have worsened in Colorado over the years. For instance, The Colorado Sun reports maternal death rates doubled from 2008 to 2021. If tragedy has struck your family in Colorado Springs, a highly-qualified attorney may have options for you to consider.

Work With an Experienced Local Child Birth Injury Lawyer in Colorado Springs, Colorado 

If you suspect child birth injury medical malpractice in Colorado Springs, 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 Colorado 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!