Child Birth Injury in Yakima, WA

According to the U.S. Census Yakima is also home to over 33,000 families. Some people fail to be able to pinpoint certain things in their lives, but most agree that the day they became a family was the day they had their first child. However, there are scenarios when children, or mothers, have been injured during the birth process due to negligence or malpractice. If this has happened to you, you may want to retain the services of an experienced attorney in Yakima.

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 Yakima, WA.

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 Yakima 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.

While there has been an alarming rise in the mortality of mother’s during childbirth in the U.S., and this rise is even more pronounced in minority communities, there are some that are taking pains to offer as much assistance as possible. Yakima Valley Memorial offers maternal health services to supplement expecting mothers and give them the best opportunities for safe and health deliveries. The program offers diagnostic services, genetic testing, and even specialized genetic counseling.

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

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

Bruising and Swelling

Pregnancy Birth Baby states that bruising and swelling can occur for a variety of reasons during the birth process. You should keep a watch over the injury to be certain that it is not symptomatic of some larger problem. Bruising and swelling of the scalp is generally attributed to too much force being applied when removing the baby from the birth canal.

Stillbirth

According to the March of Dimes, stillbirth is a condition in which a child is pronounced dead in the womb after 20 weeks of pregnancy. While the medical field does not have clear direction in terms of everything that can cause stillbirth, there are risk factors that are available to expecting mothers. These factors can include pregnancy complications like preeclampsia, or even infections. Mitigating these factors is the best path to preventing stillbirth.

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 Yakima, 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 touts that Washington state has one of the lowest rates concerning infant mortality for the United States. The state has a rate of 4.3 infant deaths per every 1,000 live births. Still, Yakima residents should be vigilant when it comes to their children and loved ones. If your child has been injured during childbirth, you may want to contact an experienced attorney in Yakima.

Work With an Experienced Local Child Birth Injury Lawyer in Yakima, Washington 

If you suspect child birth injury medical malpractice in Yakima, 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 Washington 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!