Birth injuries are often the fault of negligent medical treatment and malpractice. That said, certain factors increase the risk of a birth injury. These may be unexpected circumstances, difficulties in the pregnancy, or preexisting conditions that doctors fail to manage. Whatever the case, we’ve put together a few birth injury risk factors every mother should know.
Large Babies
Large babies are at serious risk of getting stuck in the birth canal, which can cause them to asphyxiate or even die. Sometimes, a baby’s head is too large to pass through the pelvis. Large babies may warrant planned C-sections to avoid any complications.
Maternal Weight Gain
While weight gain is normal during pregnancy, excessive weight gain increases the risks of brain and spine injury during delivery. As extra force presses against the baby’s body, there’s a higher chance of error during delivery, especially with the use of forceps.
Diabetic Status
Some expecting mothers develop a temporary condition known as “gestational diabetes.” This condition often goes away after delivery, but it still poses a significant risk to the baby. Without proper diagnosis and treatment, babies born to diabetic mothers are at greater risk of premature birth, jaundice, and abnormal growth. This could result in a much larger baby and accompanying delivery risks.
High Blood Pressure
Hospital staff must take great care to monitor the mother’s blood pressure throughout labor. If the mother’s blood pressure is too high, there is a significant risk that the mother’s life is in danger and the baby may not have enough oxygen. Without oxygen, the baby will asphyxiate. When doctors and nursing staff fail to monitor and adjust a mother’s blood pressure, they risk endangering both mother and child.
If your child suffered a birth injury due to medical malpractice, you might have a case. If you’d like to schedule a free case consultation with an experienced Portland birth injury attorney from Angel Law, please don’t hesitate to send us an email or call (503) 862-8666