Child Birth Injury in Columbia, SC

Do you believe injuries to your child in Columbia resulted from poor or neglectful medical care?

It is unfortunate but true that many childbirth injuries do not have to happen. Using the latest recommendations could reduce the rate of birth defects by 70 percent.

As a result of this dynamic, families like yours have received millions of dollars to compensate for the damage. You will need all of this compensation to take care of the long-term ramifications of an obstetrician’s mistakes. If you haven’t started making a plan, do so with us today by reading this guide.

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 Columbia, 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 Columbia 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.

Parents in Columbia should also want to consider the costs associated with injuries to the mother. South Carolina Lawyers Weekly reported in 2021 about a settlement for a woman in a coma for over three years. In this case, the hospital agreed to pay $2.1 million in damages for their negligence.

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

• Facial Nerve Injury

Facial nerve injuries during childbirth in Columbia are a relatively common occurrence. Generally, studies have found they happen in .8 to 7.5 per 1,000 live births. However, the odds increase significantly when obstetricians employ forceps.

A well-known symptom in an infant who suffered this injury is losing voluntary muscle movement. This condition is likely going to be temporary. Nonetheless, nerve damage can be congenital and last your child’s lifetime.

• Clavicle Fractures

Clavicle fractures are an unfortunately regular event during childbirth. This reality especially applies to large infants during vaginal delivery. Accordingly, there may be a case to make that a Cesarean delivery could have prevented it from happening.

A clavicle fracture is more likely to happen when a baby is born feet first in a hospital in Columbia. In fact, a 2021 study found an incidence rate of 4.29 per 1,000 births.

• Intraventricular Hemorrhage 

The National Library of Medicine reports premature infants are more likely to have an intraventricular hemorrhage. This unfortunate fact is due to the even more fragile nature of their skull. The severity of this condition inside the brain includes:

• Grade 1 and 2: smaller, temporary bleeding

• Grade 3 and 4: severe bleeding that puts pressure on brain tissue

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

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?

Childbirth injuries in Columbia can also increase the likelihood of child mortality. Unfortunately, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control reports 7.2 infant deaths per 1,000 births. This rate is well above the U.S. average of 5.4 per 1,000.

It is essential that any parent whose child has been diagnosed with a birth injury in Columbia, 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.

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

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