When couples learn that they are expecting a child, they are often jubilant with the news. It is an exciting time and many families and look forward to sharing a lifetime of memories with their children.
Unfortunately, birth injuries can rob a family of these treasured moments. Birth injuries are often preventable and can be caused by issues such as incorrect use of forceps, delays in performing a C-section, excessive force when extracting a child and other common mistakes.
Birth injuries can result in life-threatening injuries to the child and mother. In some cases, they lead to permanent and severe injuries, requiring a lifetime of care for the child. Birth injuries can also cause fatal or permanent injury to the mother.
How to Reduce the Risk of Birth Injuries
There are a few precautions couples can take:
- Get a respected OB/GYN and primary care physician. Having a family doctor as well as a gynecologist and obstetrician will get your pregnancy off to a good start. Research your health providers carefully to choose one with an excellent track record as well as a strong education. A doctor who makes you feel comfortable and who has the expertise and training you need can go a long way towards better patient outcomes. Having someone by your side who you have a personal relationship with can encourage stronger communication which can help prevent birth injuries.
- Develop a birthing plan with a respected doctor. Decide ahead of time where you will be giving birth and when you want to deliver. Develop a birth plan including your desires for cesarean section, emergency planning and more. Deciding these things in advance can help you understand what is happening when the time comes to deliver the baby.
- Know what to do in an emergency. Babies don’t always arrive as scheduled and life sometimes gets in the way. If you can’t execute your birth plan because you can’t get to the hospital or clinic or your usual doctor is not available, make sure you have a backup plan to deliver safely and in an environment where you feel comfortable and cared for.
- Speak up. If you feel something is going wrong during birth or delivery, speak up. Insist on getting answers. Ask lots of questions and stay involved in the process. Bring a family member of friend to help you during the process and to act as your advocate.
What to do if Birth Injury has Affected Your Family
If you have been affected by a birth injury, your first priority will be to your child and your family. Get answers about what caused your injury and get medical attention for the infant and the mother. One of the earliest phone calls you will want to make, however, is to a birth injury attorney in Hollywood or your community.
Very often, doctors and insurance companies will take steps to reduce liability and this can create a situation where families face a lifetime of increased medical costs and increased medical concerns for an injured child but have no way of securing compensation for the cost. A Hollywood birth injury attorney can review your options with you and can work to ensure you are not left in financial distress.
If you like to speak to a birth injury attorney, contact Flaxman Law Group for a free accident consultation. We have three offices—in Hollywood, Homestead, and Miami—to serve you.