Child Birth Injury in Lincoln, NE

Do you feel that mistakes made in a local hospital harmed your newborn child in Lincoln?

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has several programs to improve childbirth care. In particular, they want to reduce the infant mortality rate. While these efforts are admirable, they cannot prevent all costly mistakes.

You must act fast if you believe your family deserves compensation. Dealing with the consequences of the hospital’s actions can take months or years in court. But, after reading this guide, you will have the details you need to get started.

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 Lincoln, NE.

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 Lincoln 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.

A brain injury due to mistakes made by obstetricians in Lincoln can also be incredibly expensive. Consequently, there is a precedent for substantial fiscal damages. In 2015, a Nebraska family won a $17 million judgment in the civil court system.

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

  • Clavicle Fracture

A broken collarbone in an infant represents damage to the bone that connects the shoulder to the chest. If there are suspicions one exists, there should be an examination and an x-ray to confirm it.

A broken clavicle during childbirth can indicate malpractice on the part of a hospital in Lincoln. Bruising, redness or significant swelling are typical symptoms.

  • Brachial Plexus Injury

A brachial plexus injury ensues when this group of nerves becomes damaged during childbirth. It also represents an injury to the shoulder, but the symptoms materialize in the arms or hands. An infant in Lincoln with this condition will often keep their arm close to their body in a stiff and unbending position.

Depending on the severity, the treatment for it can involve corrective surgery. If this effort is necessary because of malpractice, your family should not get stuck with the bill.

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

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?

According to the CDC, Nebraska’s infant mortality rate is 5.5 per 1,000 births. This statistic places the state more or less in the middle of the rankings. As a result, it is no surprise that there are improvements that need to happen in cities like Lincoln.

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

If you suspect child birth injury medical malpractice in Lincoln, 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 Nebraska 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!

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