How to Spot Signs of Possible Medical Mistakes During Childbirth

By Thomas Greer | April 13, 2017

How to Spot Signs of Possible Medical Mistakes During ChildbirthA birth injury does not occur in a vacuum., and when one does occur, it can be a very scary situation. A birth injury might play out something like this. You and your partner are in the delivery room and something seems to be going wrong or maybe things have even been going wrong from the start. However it happens, at some point during the delivery, your instincts tell you that something is definitely wrong, and you aren’t being told all of the details.

Thankfully, birth injury is not that common in the U.S. The birth injury rate is about 7 out of every 1,000 live births, and a good portion of those injuries are preventable and are the result of medical malpractice of some type according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). But when it happens to you, it can have a devastating impact on both you and your child’s life.

Some of the more common signs of a potential birth injury or complication include the following:

  • The activity in the room suddenly becomes frantic. Everything is going fine and then something happens and things became rushed and hectic.
  • Medical staff seems worried. You can see the worry on the faces of the nurses and doctors, but no one is telling you what is going on.
  • Labor is prolonged. Whether the baby is too big for a natural delivery (macrosomia) or if the baby gets stuck as it tries to pass through the birth canal, prolonged labor can cause injury to the mother and child.
  • Caesarian-section is delayed. If an emergency situation occurs because the fetus is showing signs of distress or other complications, a C-section may be required as opposed to attempting a vaginal birth. Failure to perform a timely C-section can be medical malpractice.
  • Newborn requires special treatment. Is the newborn quickly taken away to be examined by a neonatologist before you even get the chance to hold it? If it is, this could be a sign of a potential birth injury.

Just because something goes wrong during the labor and delivery process, it doesn’t mean medical malpractice has occurred. Doctors and medical professionals must act in accordance with an accepted standard of practice for their specialty and for the area in which they work. Actions or failures to act that deviate from that standard may be seen as medical malpractice. An experienced Memphis birth injury lawyer from the law firm of Bailey & Greer is available to speak with you about any injuries to you or your child and whether you have a case worth pursuing.

Have you or your child been injured during labor and delivery that was caused by the negligence of an OB/GYN or any other medical professional? If so, the Memphis birth injury attorneys at Bailey & Greer, PLLC, encourage you to call 901-680-9777 or complete our contact form so that you can schedule a free consultation. Our compassionate and experienced West Tennessee birth injury attorneys will listen to your story and offer legal guidance specific to your case. We have offices in Memphis and Jackson, and we are ready to work with you today.

Posted in Birth Injuries