LABOR & DELIVERY INJURY LAWYERS IN BALTIMORE

Unfortunately, labor and delivery mistakes are all too common, and they can compromise your child’s well-being and health for the rest of his or her life. Such mistakes can also add undue stress and financial complications for parents who struggle to cope with helping their child with extensive medical needs.

Some of the most common labor and delivery injuries include:

• Improper vacuum use: A vacuum may be used in labor and delivery process when a mother is struggling to expel the fetus out of the birth canal. Unfortunately, if the vacuum attaches to the baby’s skull or shoulder improperly, severe injuries (affecting both the infant and the mother) can result.
• Improper use of forceps: When a mother is struggling to deliver the child or if the newborn is improperly placed in the womb, the attending physician might use forceps in order to assist the labor and delivery process. When forceps are used properly, this helps to minimize the child’s risk of fetal distress and oxygen deprivation. These conditions may contribute to severe birth injuries, like cerebral palsy. If the forceps are improperly used, however, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim.
• Failing to properly use the labor inducing drug, Pitocin: If given in an improper dose or at the improper time, Pitocin can lead to serious injuries for mother and child alike.
• Hypoxia: Hypoxia is a condition that occurs when a child’s brain is unable to receive adequate amounts of oxygen. This can be caused by an infection, damage to the placenta, or a tangled umbilical cord. Medical practitioners should always be aware of the symptoms of potential hypoxia in advance to take steps to reduce the impact or to eliminate it altogether.
• Delay in ordering a caesarean section: Emergency C-sections may be ordered by the physician if it is clear that the child is indicating fetal distress. If the labor and delivery team fails to recognize any of the conditions that warrant an emergency C-section, they may be held liable if this leads to injuries for the mother or the child.

As a new parent, it is overwhelming to consider how a child’s life has been forever changed by a doctor’s negligence. Taking legal action may be the only way to recover compensation.