Modern medicine has made giving birth much safer for mothers and their children than it has been in decades past. Nonetheless, birth injuries and fatalities do still happen.
It can be impossible to predict some birth injuries, but at the same time, many are preventable. What steps can hospitals take to try and reduce the likelihood of birth injuries occurring?
Providing proper prenatal care
Pregnancy can result in numerous physical changes for a mother, even in the early stages of a pregnancy. That’s why prenatal care is so important. Doctors should not just assume that a mother is fit and healthy. Instead, proactive measures should be taken to ensure that there are no foreseeable risks that could mother and child. Prenatal care includes conducting tests to check for fetal issues, heart rate abnormalities, gestational diabetes and much more. Generally, the earlier complications are spotted the easier they are to treat.
Recognizing warning signs
Prenatal testing and assessments are all well and good, but doctors must also be able to spot potential warning signs that something isn’t right. Factors that should be assessed throughout a pregnancy include:
- The heart rate of both mother and child
- Amniotic fluid levels
- Weight gain or weight loss
- Fetal movement
Any abnormalities in the above factors could indicate that medical intervention is required.
Acting at the right time
Doctors have to assess patients on a case-by-case basis. Generally, the longer that mother and child grapple with unaddressed potential complications, the more dangerous the birth process becomes. It is vital that doctors intervene when necessary. For instance, administering drugs at the appropriate times and performing a c-section. The timing of these medical interventions can mean the difference between both mother and child surviving and one or both of them not making it.
If you believe your medical team failed you, there are legal options. Seeking further guidance will provide you with the information you need to move forward, given the unique circumstances of your case.