Welcoming a new baby should be a joyful event for the family. That’s usually how it happens, but there are times when a birth doesn’t go as planned. While some birth injuries are true accidents, others could have been prevented.
It’s critical that staff members who are caring for a woman in labor ensure they’re handling monitoring properly. This can help to prevent many issues because there are often signs that things are going awry.
Improper monitoring during labor
Throughout labor, healthcare providers are expected to closely monitor both the baby’s and the mother’s condition. This includes tracking fetal heart rate, contractions and maternal vital signs.
If signs of fetal distress go unnoticed or are ignored, the baby may be deprived of oxygen, which is a condition known as hypoxia. This can result in brain injuries such as cerebral palsy or developmental delays.
Proper monitoring allows medical teams to take timely action, like performing an emergency cesarean section. When providers fail to respond appropriately, it can lead to preventable injuries that affect the child’s quality of life for years to come.
Problems during delivery
Shoulder dystocia is a delivery complication that occurs when the baby’s shoulder gets stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone after the head is delivered. This is an emergency and requires fast, skilled intervention. Delays or improper techniques can lead to serious injuries.
One common injury from shoulder dystocia is brachial plexus damage, which affects the nerves controlling the arm and hand. In severe cases, this can cause permanent weakness or paralysis. Other risks include fractured collar bones or even oxygen deprivation if delivery is delayed too long.
Medical providers should be able to recognize risk factors for shoulder dystocia, such as gestational diabetes or a large baby, and plan accordingly. When they don’t, and a preventable injury occurs, it may be grounds for legal action.
One of the first things parents should do when their child suffers injuries is ensure their baby receives the medical care they need. From there, they may opt to pursue a compensation claim against the medical professional who handled the delivery in a negligent manner.