Birth Injury Lawyer
Emergency deliveries are sometimes necessary to save a baby or mother’s life or to prevent serious birth injuries. Health conditions in the mother or baby, fetal distress, and failure to progress, can require emergency delivery. Failure to progress occurs when the head of the fetus halts in its progression down the birth canal. If you or your baby have been harmed by emergency delivery error, please talk to an experienced Ohio birth injury lawyer right away.
Forceps
Obstetrical forceps are used to grasp the head of the fetus and help pull the baby out during vaginal delivery. Sometimes the head must be rotated to the proper position before traction is applied. Forceps look like a long pair of tongs, and are considered to be a surgical instrument.
Improper use of forceps can cause birth injuries including:
- Intracranial bleeding
- Brain injury
- Clavicle fracture
- Facial nerve injury
- Brachial plexus injury, including Erb’s palsy
- Facial bruising
- Death
Mothers can incur injuries including:
- Anal sphincter injury
- Fecal incontinence
- Urinary incontinence
- Vaginal lacerations
- Cervical lacerations
Vacuum Extraction
Vacuum extraction involves placing a cup on the head of the fetus and using suction to keep the cup firmly attached so the baby can be pulled out of the mother during vaginal delivery. A metal cup or a soft cup may be used, and there are advantages and disadvantages to both.
Vacuum extraction birth injuries can include:
- Brain injury, including cerebral palsy
- Retinal hemorrhage
- Brachial plexus injury
- Bleeding in the brain
- Swelling of the brain
Cesarean Section
Cesarean section, or C-section, is surgery to remove the baby from the womb without the need for vaginal delivery. Emergency C-section can prevent serious birth injuries and save a baby’s life, and, in some cases prevent maternal injury as well.
However, C-section errors can injure or kill the mother or the baby. C-section injuries to the baby can include:
- Cuts and abrasions incurred during the incision on the mother
- Respiratory distress due to anesthesia
Injuries to the mother can include:
- Excessive bleeding
- Infections
- Emergency hysterectomy to control excessive bleeding
- Bladder injury
- Bowel injury
If you believe that your child’s birth injury was the result of obstetrical medical negligence, please call an experienced Ohio birth injury lawyer of The Thompson Law Firm at 1-614-461-9000 or toll free 1-800-461-9013 or submit an online questionnaire. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery of funds. In many cases, a lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations. Please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.
