Birthing Trauma on the Rise? 4 Tips to Help Parents Move Forward
Awaiting the birth of a baby is one of the most memorable events experienced by families. Unfortunately, the excitement can turn into disappointment when complications occur during childbirth.
A study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control shows that birthing traumas rose by 75 percent from 2000 to 2009. A birth trauma occurs when the newborn suffers some type of injury while the mother is in labor or delivery.
There are several possible reasons for the rise in birthing traumas and why mothers experience complications.
Risk Factors that Cause Birthing Traumas
Maternal Obesity
The mother’s physical health plays a part in birthing traumas. Mothers who are obese, have diabetes or other medical conditions, have used drugs or alcohol or smoked while pregnant are at risk for complicated deliveries.
Caesarean-section
Caesarean-section (C-section), an alternative to natural childbirth, is a common contributor to birth injuries. For the most part, C-sections are performed when babies cannot pass through the birth canal. An incision is made into the mother’s abdomen in order to deliver the baby. This surgical procedure can result in much blood loss and a risk of infection.
C-sections are performed when the baby has “prenatal asphyxia” and the mother experiences “placenta accreta.” Prenatal asphyxia occurs when an insufficient amount of blood flows to the baby’s tissues or when the baby does not have the necessary amount of oxygen in the blood.
Mothers experience placenta accreta when the placenta attaches to the uterine wall which can cause hemorrhaging after delivering. The mother may need surgery to stop the bleeding.
Difficult Labor
Prolonged or difficult labor, as well as the baby’s size, are also factors in birthing traumas. Babies weighing more than 8 pounds or those who are premature are more than likely to experience a birth injury.
Birthing Emergencies
Since childbirth can quickly turn into an emergency situation, it is common for medical mistakes to occur. If proven, medical professionals can be legally responsible for injuries occurred due to their neglect.
4 Tips to Help Families Move forward:
Some babies are able to survive the trauma without experiencing later effects, while others may suffer serious physical problems. These disabilities will have a life-long affect on the children and their parents.
There are steps parents can take to help their child while moving forward with their lives:
1) Determine Damage
Determine the specific damage done to your child. Have medical tests taken to find out the specific disorder your child may have developed. In some cases, the damages, such as learning disabilities, may not be immediately recognizable.
Parents have a right to request a medical legal review of the condition and situation surrounding the cause of the birthing trauma. It is important to determine if the victims condition was caused by the birthing event.
4) Seek Community Help
Many states provide state-wide and community support, especially if the state has an increased rate of birthing trauma. For instance, medical malpractice Virginia attorneys have seen a rise in these particular cases over the last few years.
Virginia residents who have experienced such tragedies should contact the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Program. This program covers medically necessary expenses that insurances and other programs do not cover. The program covers such expenses as hospital bills, home health care and rehabilitation.
2) Legal Advice
Contact a medical malpractice attorney. An attorney can help a family recover damages, such as pain and suffering, for the birthing trauma. Seeing as these professionals have experience in litigating malpractice claims, it would be advisable to seek aid, especially if the victim is due lifetime benefits.
In addition, a malpractice lawyer can determine if the hospital can be sued for vicarious liability, where a hospital employee’s negligence injures another; or hospital negligence, where a hospital is held liable for its own negligence.
3)Develop a Plan
Develop a long-term care plan for your child. A medical malpractice attorney can assist with this process. A birth injury requiring long-term care requires parents to make adjustments in their lives.
The trauma, however, does not have to ruin a family. Retaining legal counsel and reaching out for available assistance will help make the challenges for a family less difficult.
Jamica Bell is a freelance writer and blogger. Having experienced birthing trauma in her own family, she contributes this article to enable other families to move confidently move forward in spite of misfortune. Price Benowitz LLP is a medical malpractice Virginia law group that is dedicated to defending the legal rights of victims of birthing trauma and other medical related personal injuries.
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