Difficulties during the delivery of a baby can lead to the need for resuscitation efforts. If the hospital staff doesn’t properly resuscitate my baby, it is possible that the baby does not survive. Improper resuscitation can also mean the baby lives but sustains injuries or develops new health problems.
Doctors should perform regular tests and measurements to ensure the fetus is developing properly in the womb and to anticipate a difficult birth that may require resuscitating a baby. If they fail to do this, or if they otherwise act negligently during resuscitation and injure the baby, they may be liable for the baby’s injuries in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
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Taking Steps to Prevent a Stressful Birth
Because resuscitation is the last resort in attempting to save a baby’s life, doctors should take precautions before the delivery begins to anticipate health issues and give the baby the best chance at a healthy birth.
Studying Family History
Doctors can anticipate that a baby may go through a difficult birth process by studying the history of the mother.
Has the mother had difficult births in the past? Or have others in her family had birth defects or difficult deliveries? If so, the doctor should take steps to anticipate the need to perform resuscitation.
Monitoring the Mother’s Health
If the mother shows certain health issues during the pregnancy, the doctor caring for her should be on the lookout for the possibility of birth defects and a difficult birth. Some of those conditions include:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Obesity
Older mothers may also have an increased risk for a child with birth defects. Mothers who drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes during pregnancy may also increase their child’s risk or birth complications.
Preterm Birth
A multitude of problems during the pregnancy may lead to a preterm birth, which may increase the chance of a baby having complications that require resuscitation.
Any baby born before 37 weeks of pregnancy is considered preterm (also known as premature). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 10.02% of babies born in the United States in 2018 were preterm.
Premature babies may be born with weak lungs that require the baby to be intubated and placed on a ventilator.
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Medical Malpractice and Newborn Resuscitation
Unfortunately, sometimes all of the efforts to save the newborn do not work, and the baby suffers a fatality. Other times, a child may survive resuscitation and be left with lasting injuries, such as thorax or vocal cord damage.
In some cases, these outcomes may be unpreventable, but they can also be the fault of medical malpractice if a doctor’s negligence was involved. This may include:
Failure to Anticipate Problems
Where doctors do not plan for the newborn to be born in distress, meaning the equipment or specialists required to try to resuscitate the baby are not readily available, leading to a delay in providing life-saving care. In some cases, failing to detect a difficult birth and planning a cesarean section (C-section) as an alternative may also qualify as negligence.
Injury Caused During Birth
Doctor negligence may also cause the condition that requires a child to be resituated in the first place. A doctor attempting to help the baby through the birth canal may injure the child with excessive force. Allowing the baby’s oxygen supply to be interrupted or cut off during delivery may also be an act of negligence.
Incorrect Resuscitation Techniques
Where medical staff do not intubate the baby properly or use too much force when performing CPR.
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The Birth Injury Lawyers Group Can Defend Your Rights
Any time those involved in the delivery of your baby fail to undertake the proper steps and injure your child, their actions may qualify as medical malpractice. If the hospital staff didn’t properly resuscitate your baby, and you believe doctor negligence played a role, the Birth Injury Lawyers Group may be able to help you seek compensation for your family’s medical bills and other damages.
We represent families nationwide in settlement negotiations and medical malpractice lawsuits. Our firm can handle all legal work, evidence-gathering, and communications in your case when we represent you.
For a free case review, call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group today at (800) 222-9529. We handle cases on a contingency-fee basis where our clients do not pay us attorney fees unless and until they recover compensation via a court award or settlement offer.
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