When your baby seems ill after a difficult birth, it can be frightening to think about the potential future consequences. Doctors caring for your baby may suspect a number of conditions that could explain things like a weakness on one side of the body.
One of the conditions doctors will test for almost certainly will be cerebral palsy, often shortened to CP. This is the most common motor disability in childhood, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). CP is present in between 1.5 and 4 live births per 1,000 live births worldwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
If you believe an error from someone in the delivery room led to the brain injury that caused the onset of cerebral palsy, consider contacting a Pittsburgh cerebral palsy lawyer. Call a team member at the Birth Injury Lawyers Group as soon as possible at (800) 222-9529 for a free consultation.
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Understanding Cerebral Palsy
CP occurs when the brain does not develop normally in a baby, leading to a lifetime of reduced motor skills. CP affects the part of the brain that allows the child to control his or her muscles, which makes it difficult for the child to walk without help.
Children who have a CP diagnosis may require a lifetime of medical care and physical therapy to deal with the effects of this condition. Some of the ways CP can affect a child’s life include:
- Walking: The majority of children with CP will need help with walking, either through use of braces on the legs or a walker, or they may need to use a wheelchair.
- Motor skills: Children with CP may struggle to perform tasks that require fine motor control, such as putting on clothing, brushing teeth, or eating.
- Speaking: Some kids with cerebral palsy will struggle to control the muscles in their faces that allow them to speak clearly, making it hard for them to communicate.
- Cognitive impairment: The damage to the brain that creates the onset of CP causes some children to struggle with intellect, meaning they may need help in school and with different learning techniques.
- Pain and suffering: Those who have CP sometimes have significant pain because of constant muscle spasms, which can cause problems with sleep and with sitting or standing in certain positions.
Receiving a Fair Settlement
When someone else’s error led to the onset of CP for your baby, you have the right to attempt to seek compensation for medical bills, pain, suffering, and the reduction in quality of life. With a Pittsburgh cerebral palsy lawyer on your side, you will have an advocate who will work hard to help you receive a settlement amount that truly reflects what your family and baby will face in the future.
The team at the Birth Injury Lawyers Group takes pride in defending the rights of victims of the negligence of medical personnel. You should not have to go through this alone, and you should not have to pay for these medical costs out of your own pocket. Call us for a free case review as soon as possible at (800) 222-9529.
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Understanding Acquired Cerebral Palsy
When your baby receives a diagnosis of CP, doctors may tell you that this is an acquired form of CP. This means that the brain received damage because of some sort of incident.
For the majority of babies, acquired CP occurs at least a few weeks after birth, and usually because of some sort of infection or head trauma. But it can happen during the delivery or during the pregnancy, too.
Injury During Birth
If the doctor or another member of the medical team treating the baby and mother during the delivery commits an error, this can cause damage to the brain, leading to acquired CP.
For example, if the doctor misused forceps on the baby’s head while trying to guide it through the mother’s birth canal, the forceps could cause damage to the brain through a skull fracture.
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Understanding Congenital Cerebral Palsy
With congenital CP, the baby may have suffered brain damage while in the womb or during birth. Some of the ways a baby can develop congenital CP that could be considered negligence on the part of the doctor or another medical team member include:
- Low birthweight: A baby born with a weight of 5.5 pounds or less has an increased risk of developing CP, according to the CDC, meaning doctors should try to prolong the pregnancy as long as possible to allow the baby’s birth weight to reach a healthier level.
- Infection: If the mother suffers an infection during pregnancy, the doctor must catch it and treat it as early as possible, or the mother could pass the infection to the baby, leading to brain damage.
- Lack of oxygen: The doctor must watch for complications during the birth that could cause the baby’s oxygen supply to be reduced or cut off, such as the umbilical cord wrapping around the baby’s neck or the detachment of the placenta in the womb, increasing the chance of seeing a brain injury that leads to CP.
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Contact Us as Soon as Possible for Help with Your Case
According to Pennsylvania statute 40 Pa. § 1303.513, a minor who is the victim in a medical malpractice lawsuit has at least seven years to begin the process of filing a claim. Exceptions exist that allow for an even longer time period.
However, the team at the Birth Injury Lawyers Group recommends contacting us as early as possible. The sooner we are able to begin investigating the facts in the case, the fresher the information will be in the minds of witnesses, helping us figure out exactly what happened, and exactly which parties are liable.
For a free case review, contact a representative at (800) 222-9529 today. As a trusted Pittsburgh cerebral palsy lawyer, we have seen the way medical malpractice insurers attempt to treat victims in cases like this, and we are continually working to help you receive the fairest possible settlement.
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