Category Archives: Birth Injury

Discrimination In Maternal Healthcare Is Real

Posted on March 27, 2024
By Kila Baldwin It was reported this morning that former Kansas City Chiefs cheerleader Krystal Anderson passed away unexpectedly after giving birth to a stillborn infant. Anderson’s cause of death was stated to be sepsis, and little is being reported at this point about the cause of the infection, the specific prenatal care she was receiving, or the cause of...
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Cephalopelvic Disproportion and Birth Injury Negligence

Posted on April 10, 2019
Cephalopelvic disproportion is the term for an infant’s head that is too large to fit through the mother’s pelvis. Appropriate diagnosis of cephalopelvic disproportion typically results in the physician scheduling delivery by cesarean section. When a physician makes a mistake or negligent oversight during pregnancy, labor, or delivery, cephalopelvic disproportion can go undiagnosed. This could put both mother and child...
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What is C-Section Negligence?

Posted on January 17, 2019
A caesarian section, what doctors usually refer to as a C-section, is a major surgery; it comes all the complications of other types of surgeries. Unlike most other surgeries, however, this one usually involves the additional challenge of caring for a baby during recovery. In some cases, medical negligence and improper aftercare instructions can lead to C-section infections, which can...
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Can I Sue for My Child’s Birth Injury?

Posted on February 3, 2016
Mothers do their best during pregnancy to give their unborn babies the best start possible. They have less control over what happens once labor begins, and they put their baby’s well-being in the hands of physicians, nurses and medical staff. In most cases, babies are not hurt during birth. On some occasions, however, a medical mistake leads to the death...
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What is Perinatal Hypoxia and is It a Preventable Birth Injury?

Posted on January 13, 2016
Perinatal hypoxia, meaning the lack of oxygen to an unborn child during labor and delivery, can occur if signs of certain complications during labor and/or delivery are not caught in time by medical staff. This dangerous oxygen deficiency in an infant can have life-threatening effects. The condition can cause long-term neurological complications that range from behavioral deficits to severe seizures...
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Umbilical Cord Accidents and Medical Negligence

Posted on January 11, 2016
An umbilical cord accident disrupts blood flow through the cord to an unborn baby’s body. A cord-related accident is rare, but it is one of the causes of stillbirth and must be treated with immediate attention. Medical staff must act quickly to recognize and remedy conditions during labor or delivery to prevent harm to a newborn. A delay in action...
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Macrosomic Complications Resulting in Birth Injuries

Posted on January 11, 2016
When diagnosed and treated appropriately, a macrosomic infant – one that weighs more than eight pounds, 15 ounces – can be delivered without problems. Failure to take appropriate action may result in macrosomic complications and lifelong consequences to both the mother and child. Macrosomic complications for the mother may include: Lacerations of the birth canal Uterine atony, which can cause...
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Lack of Oxygen at Birth

Posted on December 18, 2015
Depriving a baby of oxygen before, during or after delivery can be deadly or result in permanent brain injury. Brain cells begin to die within minutes of oxygen deprivation, so it’s imperative that hospital staff quickly identify signs that a baby is not getting enough oxygen. Lack of oxygen at birth can be caused by: Umbilical cord compression Prolapsed umbilical...
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Causes of Stillbirth Related to Medical Malpractice

Posted on December 17, 2015
Many causes of stillbirth cannot be explained, but some are accompanied by clear patterns of fetal distress – the kind a physician should be able to recognize and respond to. Unfortunately, the necessary response can come too late. It’s unacceptable when a mother is ignored and she and her baby suffer the consequences, especially when an emergency Caesarian delivery or...
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Understanding Fetal Distress

Posted on December 7, 2015
Fetal distress refers to the signs before and during childbirth indicating that a fetus is unwell.  It is an uncommon complication of labor, typically occuring when the fetus has not been receiving enough oxygen. Fetal distress may occur when a pregnancy lasts too long or if there are complications during pregnancy or labor.  Indications of fetal distress during delivery may...
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Know the Risk: Questions to Ask about Shoulder Dystocia

Posted on November 9, 2015
Obstetricians must act quickly when a baby is suffering from shoulder dystocia – meaning his or her shoulder is stuck behind the mother’s pubic bone during delivery. Too much pressure or pulling too hard can tear a newborn’s brachial plexus nerves and cause lifelong issues. Shoulder dystocia can occur when a large infant, called a macrosomic baby, is too big...
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