Giving birth is unique among medical procedures in a number of ways. On one hand, both the mother and her medical team know that the baby is coming and have nine months to prepare for giving birth. On the other hand, there are many things that can go wrong during delivery, even if the pregnancy itself was not complicated.
How quickly and effectively doctors and medical staff respond to problems can mean the difference between a healthy delivery and birth injuries. In today’s post, we’ll discuss a common type of birth injury with lifelong consequences: cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy stems from brain damage that the baby suffers during birth, immediately after birth or in utero. It is a neurological disorder that can cause lifelong problems with motor function and mental development. Although cerebral palsy can have many causes, it is often caused by lack of oxygen during or just after birth.
If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, you almost certainly want answers to some important questions. How did it happen? When did the injuries occur? Were your child’s injuries unpreventable or were they the result of medical negligence?
At Breslin & Breslin, P.A., we have extensive experience with birth injury cases, including cerebral palsy. We will thoroughly examine the details of your pregnancy-related medical care to determine if mistakes were made, when they were made and by whom.
Did you have an emergency caesarian section? If so, it may have been delayed by indecision on the part of your medical team. Waiting too long puts both mother and baby at risk.
Did your medical team carefully monitor for signs of fetal distress? Did they carefully monitor your baby’s vital signs? Did the birth require the use of assisted delivery techniques (forceps, etc.)? If so, were they used properly?
Any number of things can go wrong during childbirth, some of which can cause lifelong health problems for your child and a lifetime of expensive medical costs for your family. If your baby suffers from cerebral palsy or other birth injuries, medical negligence may have been a factor. If you want to know more, please visit the cerebral palsy page on our website.
