May is National Stroke Awareness Month. Many people think that only older people experience strokes. However, even a fetus still in its mother’s womb can have a stroke. Perinatal strokes are those that occur during gestation or up to 28 days after birth. It is estimated that approximately 2,500 U.S. children suffer a perinatal stroke each year. This figure may be low, as perinatal strokes may go undiagnosed.
Damage to a baby’s brain from a stroke can have lifelong, severe effects. When medical negligence contributes to this form of birth injury, parents may be able to obtain compensation. These cases
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Latest from Birth Injury Law Blog - Page 2
Can Undiagnosed or Untreated Maternal Anemia Harm Babies?
The human body needs sufficient iron to produce hemoglobin, which carries oxygen throughout the body through red blood cells. Anemia is a serious condition where the number of hemoglobin or red blood cells is too low. A fetus needs iron to develop properly, and expectant mothers need enough iron to support their own bodies as well as the fetus.
Anemia is a common complication during pregnancy, even if the mother was not anemic before becoming pregnant. In fact, around one-third of pregnant women in the U.S. are affected by anemia. Doctors should know this and be prepared to take appropriate
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How Do I Know If My Baby Has Birth Injuries?
Sometimes, doctors can spot birth injuries right after a baby is born. However, some do not reveal themselves immediately. It may take months or years for some symptoms to appear. By that time, you may not associate your child’s issues with a birth injury. Cerebral palsy and brachial plexus injuries are among the most common birth injuries, and it is important for parents to know the signs to watch for.
If you do not discover your child’s birth injuries for years, you may wonder if you can still file a medical malpractice claim seeking compensation. In most instances, you
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What Long-Term Effects Can Maternal Birth Injuries Cause?
When most people hear the term “birth injuries,” they think about harm caused to the newborn. While many cases do involve birth injuries like cerebral palsy, meconium aspiration, and shoulder dystocia, mothers can also sustain injuries during childbirth.
Some of these maternal wounds heal over time, but others can have disastrous long-term consequences. Not all maternal injuries are preventable. However, if your injury was caused by medical negligence, our knowledgeable Chicago maternal injuries attorneys will fight to secure maximum compensation on your behalf.
What Are Some of the Most Common Maternal Injuries?
Mothers can experience both physical
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Are Congenital Disorders the Same as Birth Injuries?
Sadly, not every child is born healthy. Some conditions result from developmental abnormalities, but others are caused by a medical provider’s negligence. Either situation is tragic, but a medical malpractice claim could provide you with compensation in birth injury cases. Understanding the difference is important, and our knowledgeable Chicago birth injuries attorneys are happy to answer your questions during a free and confidential consultation.
What Is the Difference Between Birth Injuries and Birth Conditions?
Congenital anomalies often develop in the first trimester of a pregnancy. Some of these birth conditions are caused by genetics and external factors, while others have
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If My Baby or I Was Harmed by a VBAC, Can I Sue?
In 2023, C-section deliveries accounted for 32.3 percent of live births in the U.S. That same year, 15.1 out of 100 live births were by vaginal birth after a Cesarean (VBAC). A C-section delivery may be medically necessary for various reasons. That does not necessarily mean that subsequent deliveries would require that surgery. However, there are known risks associated with a VBAC. Uterine rupture is the most common, and that can harm both mother and child.
If medical negligence caused your or your baby’s injuries, you may be entitled to compensation. Any kind of medical malpractice case is complex, but
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Can I Sue for Harm Caused by My Baby’s Shoulder Dystocia?
The human birth canal is relatively narrow, but a baby’s entire body must pass through it during a vaginal delivery. In a normal birth, the baby’s head emerges first, followed by one shoulder, then the other. The baby’s body passes between the mother’s pubic bones during delivery, but in some cases, one or both of the baby’s shoulders become stuck in that area. Known as shoulder dystocia, this medical emergency requires immediate intervention to prevent harm to the mother and child.
Medical staff should know shoulder dystocia risk factors and be prepared to take appropriate action if the
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Can I Sue If My Baby’s Breech Position Was Mishandled?
When babies are ready to be born, their heads are usually the first through the birth canal. However, some babies do not make it into the correct position. A breech position places the baby’s buttocks, feet, or knees at the entrance to the birth canal rather than the head. The risk of complications is high, so doctors and midwives must follow specific procedures.
If healthcare providers did not follow those procedures and you or your child was harmed, one of our experienced Chicago, IL birth injury lawyers can hold them accountable and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Can
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What Is Obstetric Gaslighting in Birth Injury Cases?
The term “gaslighting” is usually associated with personal and romantic relationships. It describes a type of psychological manipulation aimed toward making the victim question their reality, perceptions, and sanity. Although medical gaslighting is a newly coined term, it describes a similar dismissiveness by doctors that has existed for a long time. Although a patient shares concerns with the physician, those concerns are dismissed as invalid and unworthy of exploring.
Sadly, women’s concerns are often downplayed. Obstetric gaslighting can cause both birth and maternal injuries. If your healthcare team dismissed your concerns and that dismissal resulted in harm, a skilled Chicago,
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How Can Epidural Errors Harm Mothers and Babies?
Natural childbirth is notoriously quite painful. Many expectant mothers prefer to skip the pain by receiving anesthesia through an epidural. Many C-section deliveries also use epidurals. Used in the obstetrics field since as early as 1931, around 75 percent of U.S. women use epidural anesthesia during childbirth. When administered properly, mothers should not have lasting side effects. However, epidural errors can harm both mother and baby.
If your family was harmed by avoidable epidural errors, you could be entitled to compensation. Working with a skilled Cook County, IL maternal injuries lawyer can increase your likelihood of receiving as much
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March Is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month
Cerebral palsy (CP) is an umbrella term for a group of developmental disorders that affects roughly 1 in 323 U.S. children. Congenital CP cases are the most common, when brain damage affects a baby during pregnancy or childbirth. The effects on children with CP can be mild, moderate, or severe, with some children developing multiple symptoms.
Several known risk factors are associated with CP. Competent medical providers are expected to understand and identify those risks and take extra precautions when they are present. If medical negligence caused your child’s cerebral palsy, you may be entitled to compensation. One
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How Can a Baby’s Birth Injuries Impact Parental Emotions?
Expectant parents often daydream about what their child will be like. From imagining playing with your baby to picturing them as they grow, you probably have high expectations for things you can barely wait to see unfold. When your newborn has a birth injury, your excitement can come to a screeching halt as you realize how significantly your life may have changed.
Along with obvious concern for your child, you may be dealing with overwhelming emotional trauma. Mothers are more likely to experience postpartum depression, but fathers can be devastated as well. If your baby’s birth injury is the
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If Medical Negligence Leads to a Hysterectomy, Can I Sue?
Sometimes, mistakes can be corrected. Medical errors are often more serious, but some of those can be remedied with proper treatment. A hysterectomy prevents a woman from ever giving birth to more children, and it is irreversible. While some hysterectomies are medically necessary through no fault of your physician, others result from medical negligence.
Along with the expenses and physical pain from this surgical procedure, patients can also suffer emotionally. Your eligible damages will probably be quite high, but that does not mean you will receive everything you are entitled to from the insurer. When you choose one of our
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Can a CP Birth Injury Case Cover Adaptive Equipment?
As the most common childhood motor disability, cerebral palsy(CP) is a brain disorder that affects muscle control. It can cause speech, vision, intellectual, and hearing impairments. Although some cases of CP are genetic, others result from birth injuries and are, therefore, preventable. While the symptoms differ and can change throughout life, there is no cure for cerebral palsy.
Various adaptive equipment and technologies may be required to help those with CP. The costs of these aids can be extremely high, but if your child’s CP resulted from negligent medical care, a skilled Chicago, IL birth injuries lawyer can
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Do Missed Developmental Milestones Indicate Birth Injury?
If you have a newborn, your pediatrician, family, and friends will soon be asking about whether your baby smiles yet, can hold her or his head up independently, rolls over, or can accomplish many other significant developmental milestones. You probably plan to keep track of the first time these momentous events occur. But what if the anticipated time passes and your baby still cannot sit, stand, walk, or speak?
Could these missed milestones indicate a birth injury that went unnoticed until now? Can you still seek compensation? A skilled Chicago, IL birth injury attorney can assess your eligibility for
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How Can Improper Fetal Monitoring Lead to Birth Injuries?
Monitoring a fetus during pregnancy, labor, and delivery can give your medical team advance notice of any problems that arise. Early warning enables the possibility of intervening in many cases, potentially saving the baby from preventable harm or death. Unfortunately, improper monitoring can cause birth injuries that have permanent consequences.
What kinds of fetal monitoring are standard practice? What birth injuries could result from improper monitoring? If you believe your child was harmed by improper fetal monitoring, a knowledgeable Chicago, IL birth injury attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve.
What Types of Fetal Monitoring Should Be Performed?
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