Child Birth Injury in Iowa

Your child’s birth should be a joyous event that becomes the highlight of your life. But, when health issues happen due to mistakes, the hospital may owe you a lifetime of damages.

The financial obligations for medical bills, special education, and other concerns can mount up quickly. Consequently, these terrible events have resulted in lawsuits worth millions in Iowa.

Do you believe that an obstetrician made a terrible mistake? Do you worry that your child will suffer due to negligence? Then read this guide today and decide if scheduling a consultation is in your best interests.

What Causes a Childbirth Injury?

While enduring delivery, was a medical professional negligent towards you and did damage occur as a result? If so, affected parents have a chance of bringing a medical malpractice lawsuit for compensation in Iowa.

During the labor and delivery process, timing and action are two crucial elements. Sometimes an infant suffers a birth injury. This can mean that a medical practitioner either made a poor judgment call or failed to act appropriately. However, if the Iowa 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 come, and are not reached.

As a result of these potential damages, juries in Iowa have been generous during litigation. For instance, The Gazette reported on a $98 million judgment for parents in Iowa City whose newborn suffered a brain injury.

Even further, there are quite a few scenarios that may cause a child to sustain an injury while being born in Iowa. 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. Iowa medical professionals may intervene and use a vacuum to assist. The 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. Attending medical professionals may use forceps to help move it 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.

Still, 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 Iowa 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 an infant 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.

• Cerebral Palsy

The American Pregnancy Association points out that cerebral palsy is a group of conditions. The cumulative effect of the symptoms is lacking control over movement or posture. Children can improve their motor functions and other abilities depending on the severity.

Currently, 70 to 80% of those with cerebral palsy have spastic conditions that can make muscles stiff. At worst, there are quadriplegic spasms that can also make controlling the mouth or tongue difficult. Infections, blood diseases, and asphyxia during childbirth are potential causes that parents in Iowa need to know.

• Obturator Nerve Damage

Parents in Iowa may recognize obturator nerve damage as a common sports injury. When this nerve in the thigh suffers damage, symptoms like the following can occur:

• Numbness

• Muscle weakness

• Constant aching

• Leg cramps, especially during physical activity

Current research suggests this happens in up to 2% of live births. It can arise due to stretching or compressing the nerve. Too much twisting or using tools the wrong way are possible contributing factors.

• Neonatal Brachial Plexus Palsy (NBPP)

NBPP is an injury that can happen in the womb or during childbirth. A few causes for parents in Iowa to know for purposes of a negligence or malpractice lawsuit are:

• Pulling the infant’s head and neck toward the shoulders

• Stretching the shoulders too far during a head-first birth
• Intense pressure on raised arms when a breech birth is necessary

Generally, neonatal brachial plexus palsy is less common due to c-sections. Delaying the procedure is an example of a wrong call by obstetricians that can create awful complications.

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

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 Iowa, 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 National Library of Medicine suggests medical negligence is a genuine threat to mothers and children. If tragedy strikes your family in Iowa, you should discuss your options for legal recourse with an attorney.

Work With an Experienced Local Child Birth Injury Lawyer in Iowa

If you expect birth injury medical malpractice in Iowa, you should take action. Cases can vary sharply depending on the state in which the injury occurs. 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 Iowa 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!