Child Birth Injury in Virginia Beach, VA

Who could ever truly be prepared for raising an infant? The diapers, the car seats, the 2 a.m. feedings; it can all be overwhelming. But those feelings of stress, worry, and anxiety often melt away when you hold your child for the first time. However, a different kind of stress and anxiety can rear its head if your child happens to be injured during the delivery process.

Medical malpractice and negligence can be devastating for your loved ones, but there is a solution. You may wish to engage the services of an experienced Virginia Beach attorney if you or your child have been injured during childbirth.

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 Virginia Beach, VA.

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 Virginia Beach 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.

The Virginian Pilot reports that a family was awarded $1.8 million in a medical malpractice suit that injured a newborn child. Venus Bowles’ son was injured in 2004 due to the negligent actions of the staff at Chesapeake General Hospital. When the child became stuck in the birth canal, the staff aggressively pulled on his arm, damaging the nerves in the arm and shoulder.

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

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

Pelvic Organ Prolapse

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services seeks to educate women about the causes and effects of pelvic organ prolapse. This condition can occur when the muscles and tissues that support the pelvic organs become loose after the strain of labor. With the support system loosened, the organs can slip down and create a bulge in the vagina. This is not life threatening, but can be quite painful.

Lack of Prenatal Care

The National Library of Medicine states that the lack of proper prenatal care, and the lack of exposure to this care from medical providers, can be devastating to a child. If proper prenatal care is not taught, offered, and observed, it can lead to premature births, low birth weight, infections for both mother and child, and even death for the mother and child. These deaths can generally be attributed to preventable infections during the perinatal and postnatal periods.

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 Virginia Beach, 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 Center for Disease Control reports that Virginia has an infant mortality rate of 5.6 deaths for every 1,000 live births. This has been an 18% decline between 2009 and 2019. Still, if you or your child has been injured during childbirth, it may be in your best interest, as well as the best interest of your child, to contact an experienced attorney in Virginia Beach.

Work With an Experienced Local Child Birth Injury Lawyer in Virginia Beach, Virginia 

If you suspect child birth injury medical malpractice in Virginia Beach, 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 Virginia 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!