Birth Injury Support

For families with children who have birth injuries, help can come in many forms. Wheelchairs and other adaptive equipment can assist children in reaching developmental milestones.

Medical treatment can also help manage the symptoms of various birth injuries. Doctors aren't fortune-tellers and no two babies will react to treatment in the same way.

Many birth injuries can be avoided. Families can get help by working with a lawyer who is specialized in claims for birth injuries.

Diagnosis

A child could suffer lifelong issues if a birth injury goes untreated or not diagnosed. These issues can lead to serious intellectual and physical disabilities. They can also pose a life-threatening risk if the severity is extreme.

Several types of tests can detect birth injuries in a variety of ways. These include umbilical cord blood gas analysis, brain MRI, CT scan, and other neuroimaging tests. Doctors may also perform cognitive and reflex tests to determine the presence of specific signs.

Parents can assist by watching their children and observing any abnormalities or missed developmental milestones. They should also keep detailed documents of every medical procedure or consultations. This information could be vital for any legal action related to birth injuries that were caused by medical malpractice.

Birth injuries are not always apparent. In some instances, the problem might not be noticed until the child reaches an age and begins to develop motor or cognitive skills. Signs of birth traumas can include abnormal movements or facial or neck anomalies seizures, trouble eating and sleep issues.

A baby's prognosis is determined by the severity of the injury and the region was affected. Mild injuries, such as Erb's palsy or newborn jaundice can heal with time. Injuries that are severe, such as spinal cord injury can result in permanent impairment for a child and require long-term care.

Depending on the kind of birth injury, there are various resources that can provide support and assistance for the child. For example adaptive equipment like speech or wheelchairs can aid a child who has mobility issues communicate and move around. Nutrition plans and physical therapies can aid a child who has difficulty eating, swallowing, or has issues with motor skills.

Many birth injuries are preventable. Some birth injuries are unavoidable. If your child's condition was the result of a medical mistake during the birth process, you may be eligible for financial compensation. Contact a birth injury lawyer to find out more about your legal rights. You can discuss your case with an attorney for free. Contact us today to set up your complimentary consultation.

Treatment

Birth injuries can vary in severity and may cause symptoms that last a long time. The sooner an injury related to birth is identified and treated the better.

Doctors can perform a variety of diagnostic tests to diagnose a birth trauma. One of the most crucial is the Apgar test, which tests skin tone, heart rate, muscle reflexes, and breathing. If the Apgar score is high then the baby is healthy.

A blood gas analysis is another diagnostic tool that measures oxygen levels and carbon dioxide in umbilical cordblood. This can detect HIE which is a type of brain injury caused by an absence of oxygen during delivery. The doctors will also perform MRI and CT scans in order to determine if there are any brain injuries. These include skull fractures as well as hemorrhages.

Surgery is required for serious injuries. Surgery is necessary for the most severe. If the nerves controlling the muscles are damaged it may cause cerebral palsy or Erb's Palsy (paralysis in the brachial nerves of the arm) or Klumpke’s Palsy (paralysis in one of the upper shoulder joints). These conditions are usually permanent and can be life-threatening. The phrenic nerve, which controls the diaphragm which separates the organs of abdomen and chest can be injured in delivery. This can result in the paralysis of one of the lungs, making breathing difficult. In these cases the surgeons will usually repair the damage with a surgical procedure called a burr hole surgery.

Other treatments can include physical therapy, which can help children with mobility issues. Speech and occupational therapy can help children who have trouble with their daily activities, such as drinking, eating, or speaking. Some birth injuries can be treated using medications. For example, painkillers can aid children suffering from Erb's and cerebral palsy, and muscle relaxants and anti-spastic medications can aid children who have muscles that are tight. Some children may need to take anti-seizure medicine particularly if brain damage has led to a seizure disorder.

The expenses associated with raising a child with a disability can be enormous. Families should be aware of the different sources of financial aid in the form of public and private insurance, daycare and educational programs.

Prognosis

The prognosis for birth injuries is different depending on the nature of injury and the severity it is. In some instances the damage is permanent and requires ongoing care. The symptoms can also get worse or improve over time. Injuries can be caused by various factors during pregnancy and childbirth, including abnormalities in the fetus's development, placental problems as well as excess amniotic fluid and maternal infections.

The most commonly reported birth injury is Erb's paralysis that affects the nerves in the arms and hands that control the movement. Most children with this condition recover completely, however some may require surgery or occupational therapy or physical therapy. Other injuries, like clavicular fractures or hypoxic-ischemic brain disease, may have a lasting impact on the development of a child.

PVL is a different type of birth injury. This occurs when there is pressure on the brain's white matter due to excessive twisting or pulling during a difficult birth. This can cause brain damage and is among the most serious types of birth injuries.

Other conditions that could have a negative impact on the development of a newborn include infant torticollis that causes the head and neck to be twisted or tilted to one side; meconium aspiration syndrome, that occurs when a newborn swallows meconium while in utero instead of passing it through the birth canal and skull fractures.

While some birth injuries are the result of unpredictably complicated births that can arise during childbirth medical obstetrics negligence attorney is the most common cause of serious and lasting birth traumas. If you think that your child's birth trauma was the result of malpractice, it is crucial to seek out the counsel of a skilled lawyer.

The Help Center is a comprehensive online resource that covers everything about childbirth and pregnancy. It also provides information on birth injury settlements injuries, childhood disabilities, and the resulting effects. We aim to provide timely and accurate information and assistance for those in need. Contact us now to get started. For further advice look over the extensive collection of resources at MASIC, which contains a wealth of information on how to cope with a child who has cerebral palsy as well as other birth injuries. Click here to access the MASIC guide for parents and caregivers.

Support

The joy of welcoming a brand new baby to the world can be complicated when medical mistakes occur during birth. From minor injuries such as cuts and bruises, to more serious injuries like brain damage, a traumatic birth can leave children with permanent disabilities.

Medical professionals are trained to recognize risks of complications during childbirth and taking swift actions to avoid serious harm. Some healthcare providers fail to follow this standard of care, leading to preventable birth injury lawyer birth injuries. These medical malpractice mistakes can result in devastating consequences for the child's life as well as the family.

It's crucial that parents who have a child with a life-changing birth trauma receive the help they require to deal with the trauma both emotionally and physically. This could include counseling, therapy and other treatments. Families also need financial assistance to meet the ongoing needs of their disabled child. This can be a challenge when insurance companies deny disability claims or fail to provide adequate coverage. The civil legal system may provide the financial support that families require.

A successful claim for a birth injury could pay a child's parents or guardians for all or the majority of their disability-related expenses. This can include medical treatments, therapies, other support services, and mobility equipment such as wheelchairs. It could also include a caregiver, daycare or assistive technology to help children with disabilities communicate and participate in daily activities.

While no amount will be able to cover the child's injuries but financial aid can provide them with the help and support they need to lead a fulfilling life. Families who are thinking of filing a birth injury claim should speak with a seasoned birth trauma lawyer to find out more about their legal options.

A lawyer can help you determine whether the birthing center or hospital in which your child was injured should be held accountable for their lapses in causing your child's medical condition. The attorneys at Paul & Perkins are ready to look over your case and help you understand your legal options when seeking justice. Contact us today to begin.