Having a baby can be an exciting yet stressful experience, especially if there are health concerns for the mother or infant. Oregon mothers rely heavily on their obstetricians and midwives to monitor their conditions and keep them and their babies safe throughout pregnancy, labor, delivery and postpartum. If your doctor, nurse or midwife or other medical team member is careless, serious birth injuries may occur.
Sometimes, an injury occurs during childbirth that is no one’s fault. Sadly, however, many birth injuries are caused by medical negligence. If your child suffered oxygen deprivation because of a failure to order a cesarean section in a timely manner or has cerebral palsy, a forceps injury or another adverse condition, you may have grounds for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit in civil court.
An obstetrician knows when to order a C-section
If you or your baby shows signs of distress or certain symptoms during pregnancy or childbirth appear, your obstetrician or midwife should know if a C-section would be the swiftest and safest way to deliver the baby. Hypoxia refers to a lack of oxygen to the brain, which often occurs if the baby is too large to fit through the birth canal or other emergency issues arise. To avoid hypoxia, an obstetrician can perform a C-section.
Shoulder dystocia occurs when nerves in a baby’s shoulder are damaged. This condition often results in paralysis. It, too, is often avoidable by the timely performance of a C-section. If you believe that your child suffered birth injuries because of substandard medical care, you may seek guidance by requesting a meeting with the Law Office of Robert A. Miller, an experienced medical malpractice attorney who provides support for Oregon families who have sustained damages because of childbirth negligence.