Child Birth Injury in Rochester, NY

While some parents hope for a boy, and others hope for a girl, most just want their child to be healthy and happy. And for many parents, those first few moments of life with their newborn child are everything they dream it will be. However, there are those that suffer through injury during childbirth, to their child or themselves, due to medical malpractice or negligence. If this happens to you, you may want to seek out an experienced attorney in Rochester.

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 Rochester, NY.

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 Rochester 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 may be certain instances during a difficult delivery where you will need someone to advocate for you. And in truth, there is no better person to advocate for you than yourself. It is important to have as much information as possible so that you can make the best choices, and avoid putting yourself in the hands of someone negligent. As such, The University of Rochester Medical Center provides a health and birth encyclopedia to help expecting parents educate themselves on the birthing process.

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

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

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

Infections

Infections are a nasty way to begin a life, and can be especially threatening to newborn without fully developed immune systems. Mothers are also weakened from labor and can have a harder time fighting off infections. According to the National Health Service, infections such as chicken pox, CMV, and Group B Streptococcus are incredibly dangerous for an unborn child. In addition, animal transmitted viruses such as toxoplasmosis or Hepatitis E, are also extremely dangerous.

Maternal Nutrition

Poor dietary decisions can have an increasingly bad effect on both mother and child, according to UNICEF. Iodine, iron, calcium, and zinc are all heavily required by both parties during a pregnancy to make sure that optimal health is achieved. Anemia, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes can all be brought on by poor nutrition. In addition, you run the risk of a child undergoing low birth weight, stillbirth, and developmental delays.

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 Rochester, 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.

Rochester residents can take ease knowing that New York has experienced a 13% drop in its infant mortality rate during the years between 2009 and 2019. This is according to the March of Dimes. The current infant mortality rate stands at 4.7 infant deaths per every 1,000 live births.

If you, or your child, have experienced injury during the birthing process in Rochester, you may want to contact an experienced Rochester attorney to help you fight for your rights.

Work With an Experienced Local Child Birth Injury Lawyer in Rochester, New York 

If you suspect child birth injury medical malpractice in Rochester, 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 New York 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!