The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates an average of
4 million babies are born every year in the United States. Studies suggest
that 6 to 8 babies out of every 1,000 will suffer from birth injuries
in the nation. This means that 1 in 9,714 Americans are born with a birth
injury, more than 24,000 per year. To better understand the injuries,
it is important to know how a baby can sustain the damage.
Childbirth Injury Causes
Many individuals often confuse birth injuries with birth defects. The latter
occurs because of genetic or environmental factors, or sometimes the cause
is never known. Unless caused by medication or chemical exposure, birth
defects are usually unpreventable. By contrast, the Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality estimates that almost 50% of childbirth injuries
are preventable.
Medical malpractice is a common cause of birth injury.
Human Errors
Doctors and nurses are obligated to follow the acceptable standard of
care to ensure a baby is safely delivered. When they fail to do so, the
lives of both mother and child are at risk. Some of the most cited errors include:
- Failure to monitor fetal or maternal vital signs
- Excessive uterine stimulation with oxytocin (Pitocin)
- Failure to recognize cephalopelvic disproportion
- Misuse of forceps or vacuum
These mistakes can cause
hypoxic injury (lack of oxygen) to the baby’s brain resulting in cerebral palsy.
Or, they can lead to uterine rupture, hemorrhage and maternal death.
Cases involving birth injuries are complicated and expensive. They require
considerable expertise and experience. At Hampton & King, we fight
for birth injury victims across Houston. If your child sustained injuries
at birth because of malpractice or negligence, contact our
Houston birth injury lawyers today. We help families seek the justice they deserve.
Related Stories:
- What is Hypoxic Brain Injury?
- What You Need to Know About Cerebral Palsy
- Establishing the cause of a baby’s brain injury