The birth of a child is an exciting time in the life of any Oregon family. Parents should be proud of their baby and thrilled at the prospect of taking the new addition home. However, when the baby suffers injuries during birth, it can affect this celebration. The parents must then wonder what their child’s life would be like and how they protect him or her from additional pain and suffering.
In many cases, a birth injury is something that will resolve itself over time, but that is not always the case. There are times when a birth injury can result in permanent damage that will affect the child the rest of his or her life. There are certain factors that can make the occurrence of a birth injury more likely, and doctors should be aware of these risks.
What could place your child at risk?
One way that a doctor can reduce the chance of a birth injury is to be diligent in the care of the mother and baby leading up to the time of delivery. Certain symptoms and signs could indicate that additional care and interventions could be necessary in order to prevent harm to the baby. Some of these things include:
- The mother is overweight.
- The baby is measuring too large or too small.
- The baby is not in the right position in the birth canal.
- The shape of the mother’s pelvis could make it difficult to deliver.
An experienced medical professional should notice any of these things and understand they could make delivery risky. He or she should communicate these things to the mother and take steps to prepare everyone on the delivery team. During delivery, the use of forceps, lack of monitoring, cesarean section and other factors could also increase the chance of a baby suffering a birth injury.
Families have rights
If your child suffered injuries during birth, you have the right to act on his or her behalf. It is possible that some form of medical negligence caused your child’s injuries, and you may have grounds to move forward with a civil claim. If you are unsure of what happened or are not certain who could be to blame, it may be helpful to seek a thorough assessment of your case with an experienced legal professional who can provide clarity regarding your options.