While pregnant and living in Illinois, you likely have many exciting thoughts about planning for your new baby. However, some complications could occur during labor and delivery, resulting in significant health issues that could be long-lasting.
Deprived of oxygen
Throughout the time you’re having contractions and delivering your baby, your doctor will likely ensure you and your little one have plenty of oxygen. This is accomplished in several ways, including placing an oxygen mask on your nose and monitoring vital signs. If your baby doesn’t get enough oxygen in the uterus or even in the minutes and hours after delivery, it could result in brain damage, cognitive delays, and death. A medical malpractice claim could be filed if there was a lack of oxygen detected before birth and nothing was done to rectify the issue.
Dystocia
When your baby is too large to fit safely through the birth canal, it could result in a complication called shoulder dystocia. This injury involves the shoulders getting stuck behind or underneath the pelvic bone, which could lead to your baby having a broken collarbone or severe bleeding after delivery. A C-section is often ordered if a doctor sees that a baby might be too large to be delivered vaginally.
Infections
Any infection you develop while pregnant could be passed to your baby. Proper medications can be prescribed to rid your body of an infection, but they should be safe for the fetus. If left untreated, this illness could cause respiratory distress.
Childbirth is an event that is often enjoyable and memorable for parents. With proper care, many complications that could be present at birth can be treated before irreparable damage occurs.