There are many types of birth injuries, and one familiar one is cerebral palsy. Oregon parents faced with this condition after the birth of their child might initially blame their labor and delivery team for the issue, but in many cases, this is misplaced. Scientists believe that the majority of CP cases do not arise because of errors in the labor and delivery process. In many situations, the factors causing the condition are present before birth.
CP tends to be more common in babies with a low weight at birth, especially if they weigh less than 1,500 grams. Those born prior to week 37 of the pregnancy are more likely to deal with CP as well. The risk is even greater for babies born prior to week 32. A mother whose pregnancy results from fertility treatment is more likely to deal with multiple births, another risk factor for CP because of its close connection with early births and low birth weights.
A mother’s health can affect a child’s outcome, especially if she suffers from an infection during her pregnancy. Chronic issues such as thyroid disease can also factor into a child’s condition at birth. During birth, a traumatic situation such as a detached placenta or a problematic umbilical cord could interfere with a child’s oxygen supply. While such situations might cause a health care provider to attribute CP to the mother’s health, the timing of a physician’s actions and decisions could jeopardize a baby as labor is permitted to continue too long.
In a hypothetical situation, a parent dealing with a child’s birth injury because of an inappropriate delay in performing a C-section might have grounds for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit against the responsible practitioner. A lawyer might begin working on the case by requesting relevant medical records for review.