Child Birth Injury in Fort Collins, CO

Having a child in Fort Collins should be an ecstatic time for parents. While there are plenty of stressors to handle, there is also immense hope for the future. Regrettably, a mistake in the delivery room can change lives forever.

Recent reporting says that Colorado has improved its infant mortality rate. This statistic tends to be an indicator of the overall quality of childbirth care. But, the same reports also suggest that there is room for improvement.

The law affords you civil protections if your family has suffered because of malpractice. We hope that reading this guide will help you on the path toward seeking justice in court.

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 Fort Collins, 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 Fort Collins 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.

There have also been cases in Colorado of brain damage to infants due to receiving the wrong medication. A notable example happened in 2015. Reuters reports that a family received $17.8 million when their daughter suffered injuries from malpractice.

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

• Fractures

The Journal of Orthopedics and Orthopedic Surgery identifies three groups of obstetrical fractures. Injuries to the clavicle, femur, and skull are the topmost concerns. They remain consistent, albeit rare, whether parents in Fort Collins choose a vagina or Cesarean birth.

Low or heavy birth weight are risks for this type of injury in a hospital in Fort Collins. Furthermore, a breech birth is another well-known factor. These elements can create the conditions where an obstetrician makes a life-altering mistake.

• Nerve Injuries

The most common nerve injury during childbirth happens during a breech birth. As obstetricians attempt to get the infant from the birth canal, their shoulders can become trapped over their head. This problem only becomes worse when the child is too wide to emerge without incident.

This situation in a hospital in Fort Collins is challenging enough without mistakes by the staff. But, frustrating efforts to get the child out can exacerbate or even cause damage to the brachial plexus. Surgeries and therapy are likely to follow to correct or prevent worsening symptoms.

• Intrauterine Fetal Demise

Parents in Fort Collins may know intrauterine fetal demise as stillbirth or miscarriage. The former represents the death of a fetus after 28 weeks of pregnancy. Miscarriages happen before this point in gestation.

Determining the cause of intrauterine fetal demise can be problematic at best. Regardless, there is precedent for proving malpractice was the cause. The details of your case will need to demonstrate an airtight legal argument only a qualified attorney can provide.

What Are Some Other Possible Causes of Childbirth Injury in Fort Collins?

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 Fort Collins, 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.

Even more temporary problems can end with juries awarding tens of thousands to parents in Fort Collins. For instance, Luster v. Brinkman resulted in a judgment of $79,297 after their infant suffered shoulder dystocia.

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

If you suspect child birth injury medical malpractice in Fort Collins, 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!