Child Birth Injury in San Diego, CA

Are you feeling alone and unsure of what to do about an injury to your child during their delivery?

A journal article from 2022 offers a shocking statistic about the frequency of childbirth injuries. In total, the numbers suggest 25 to 31 infants per 1,000 suffer one. Accordingly, this also means many families in San Diego may have had a similar experience.

California law and recent legal presidents are likely to be on your side. But, the statute of limitations may not be on your side. Read this article carefully today to better understand your rights during this stressful time.

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 San Diego, CA.

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 San Diego 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.

KFMB-TV in San Diego points out there were also expanded risks to mothers amidst the pandemic. In particular, African-Americans and Hispanics suffered the most during childbirth.

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

  • Subgaleal Hemorrhage

A subgaleal hemorrhage happens when blood pools between a baby’s scalp and skull. This condition can be fatal. Even worse, it often goes unreported and unappreciated as a significant risk.

Medical studies associate a subgaleal hemorrhage most often with the use of vacuum extraction. Botched childbirth can easily exacerbate the condition to a dangerous degree.

  • Skull Fractures

The passage of an infant’s head through the birth canal can be dangerous for their fragile skulls. Furthermore, difficulties pulling them through is a way that terrible mistakes can occur.

Researchers believe that most skull fractures are incomplete and can go undetected. Therefore, they may not become as well documented as others by medical professionals in San Diego.

What Are Some Other Possible Causes of Childbirth Injury in San Diego?

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 San Diego, 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.

Presently, the infant mortality rate in San Diego County is 3.7 per 1,000 births. Generally, this puts the city and its surrounding areas in good stead compared to others. On the other hand, this fact can also mean that malpractice stands out when they go to court.

Work With an Experienced Local Child Birth Injury Lawyer in San Diego, California 

If you suspect child birth injury medical malpractice in San Diego, 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 California 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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