Child Birth Injury in Fort Myers, FL

Are you concerned about your family’s future after suffering through a childbirth injury in Fort Myers?

Southwest Florida has a well-documented history of issues. But, the region has taken great strides to improve, and local organizations have offered resources. For example, Healthy Start alone has helped over 20,000 women recently.

However, the big picture is that families may need legal help to get the compensation and care they deserve. In response to this demand, we offer a quick guide for you to consider and resources to connect to a local 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 Fort Myers, FL.

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 Myers 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.

Outside circumstances like the pandemic have also contributed to injuries or deaths in Fort Myers. Local TV station FOX4 reports there was as much as a 33% increase in maternal mortality.

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

• Brachial Plexus Injury

The brachial plexus refers to the nerves that run from the shoulders and connect to the arms. In regards to childbirth, it tends to suffer an injury during a breech birth.

Accordingly, Healthline reports that large babies have a higher risk of experiencing a brachial plexus injury. Their arms can become trapped when they cannot fit properly through the birth canal. Too much twisting or other types of force in a Fort Myers hospital can tear the nerves.

• Femoral Fractures

The Journal of Children’s Orthopedics states that a femoral fracture is rare during childbirth. Regardless, three-quarters of these injuries happen during a breech or feet-first birth.

The exact cause is up for debate, but there can be clear cases of malpractice being the cause. Using too much mechanical force manually or with medical tools have caused a femoral fracture.

• Cephalohematoma

Babies born in a hospital in Fort Myers have fragile skulls. As a result, the childbirth trauma to this area is not unusual. They also tend to be a relatively benign condition that passes with time.

Regardless of the typical scenarios, cephalohematoma can be the product of negligence in the delivery room. Moreover, medical staff may mistake a more severe problem for this condition. This mistake can result in the need for surgeries or permanent brain damage.

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

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?

The Florida Department of Health reports the infant mortality rate was at an alarming 7 per 1,000 live births. Since then, it has reduced to 5.53 per 1,000. Comparing these numbers to the national average still leaves plenty of room for concern for parents in Fort Myers.

It is essential that any parent whose child has been diagnosed with a birth injury in Fort Myers, 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 Fort Myers, Florida 

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