Labor and Delivery Negligence

Published on: January 21, 2012

A Study finds that Many Childbirth Injuries are Avoidable

by Stephen Bilkis

A study conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality came to the unavoidable truth that many childbirth-related injuries sustained by newborns are relatively common and altogether avoidable.   The analysis examined 2006 data and noted that common issues included injuries to newborns such as broken collarbones, head injuries and infections, as well as maternal injuries during delivery. During the study year, the researchers concluded that almost 157,700 injuries to mothers and newborns could have been avoided had certain signs been observed or procedures been followed. Obstetrical traumas during vaginal births with instruments accounted for the highest rates of injury.   Surprisingly, rates of obstetrical trauma were 44 percent higher for women living in communities that had higher median household incomes than for women living in the poorest communities. Meanwhile, newborns covered by Medicaid and uninsured newborns had lower injury rates than those covered by private insurance. The two findings seem to contradict common perceptions, but the records do not lie.

“Ultimately, it doesn’t matter who you are as tragedy can strike any of us at any time in our lives,” a prestigious doctor says. While we make informed decisions that we hope will lead to positive outcomes, if our knowledge is limited because a doctor has neglected to tell us we are at risk for something, we will blame him or her – the man or woman with the training and the pledge to uphold life.   The use of instrumentation is a highly debated topic. While mechanical aids are used in every path of medicine, in the delivery room, there is a high rate of ineptitude – too high when you consider that another life hangs in the balance of that ignorance.

A positive and interesting note, however, was that overall injury rates for neonates and birthing mothers in Long Island and Manhattan have fallen significantly since the year 2000. For example, obstetric traumas for mothers occurring during vaginal birth without instruments fell 30 percent during that period.

Published on: January 15, 2012

Topamax Related to Oral Cleft Birth Defects

by Stephen Bilkis

The anti-epileptic medication Topamax may be related to oral cleft birth defects. Pregnant women and their doctors now face an even more difficult choice when deciding on an epilepsy drug since the information leaked that many of these anti-epileptics have shown to have a correlation with birth injuries and severe defects.

If you have been prescribed Topamax during pregnancy, a consultation with a trusted medial professional is imperatively urgent. Topamax birth defects are of particular concern because most facial and oral malformations, especially cleft palate and cleft lip, take place during the first trimester of pregnancy, and at this point, some women may not even be aware that they are pregnant, thus exposing their fetus to potential harm.

A prominent doctor insists that all sexually active women within child-bearing years using Topamax should be well informed about the possible consequences of the drug to a pregnancy before they are prescribed the drug.

Published on: December 22, 2011

Lawyer from Leeds Plead with Hospitals

by Stephen Bilkis

A Lawyer from Leeds is urging the NHS to take measures to reduce the number of babies born and affected by trauma at birth. The firm representing the family of a five-year-old birth injury victim recently spoke out during National Birth Trauma Awareness Week.

The young girl suffered brain damage when she was born at St James’s Hospital. She now suffers from athetoid cerebral palsy, which has left her with no control over her arms or legs. She also struggles to eat, cannot sit up unsupported and has limited vocabulary. Though she is very bright and can operate her wheelchair and communication aids, her limitations necessitate 24-hour care.

A Leeds charity SNAPS provides hydrotherapy which seems to be helping the youngster. The child’s mother is a trustee of SNAPS.

Published on: December 4, 2011

Complications can arise when it comes time to deliver the baby

by Stephen Bilkis

Even in perfectly normal pregnancies, complications can arise when it comes time to deliver the baby. The timing of labor is actually very important. If the baby comes too early, it can suffer severe complications and medical issues, but if the pregnancy goes too long, the placenta can stop working properly, leading to birth injuryas well.

A pregnancy is considered full-term at 37 weeks. Any birth that takes place before 37 weeks gestation is considered preterm. Usually a baby born after 35 weeks suffers no medical problems, so labor is not stopped from 35 weeks on.

Sometimes labor begins on its own, either due to a medical problem the mother or baby may have, or for no reason whatsoever. Only about 10% of women deliver on their due date, although 90% of women deliver within 2 weeks of their due date. Early in the pregnancy, an ultrasound is done to try and determine the length of the pregnancy to date. Ultrasounds done in mid-pregnancy, or late pregnancy are less effective at determining the length of the pregnancy.

Published on: November 30, 2011

Hospitals Are Revising Delivery Room Practices

by Stephen Bilkis

A doctor is applauding the efforts of a group of sixteen Midwest hospitals who are revising their practices in order to better protect newborns during childbirth.

According to a recent report in the Wall Street Journal, hospitals in the Ascension Health, Fairview Health Services and the University of Minnesota Public Health groups involved in the revision process have seen a drastic reduction in birth injuries and deaths in the two years since they began using the updated safety protocol series.

“Attorneys representing families who have experienced the tragedy of a birth injury have forced hospitals to take a hard look at what’s wrong with their practices. To their credit, these hospitals have responded positively and have taken up the challenge to improve.”

Published on: November 27, 2011

Improper Forceps Use Result in Birth Injuries

by Stephen Bilkis

Birth injuries happen for a variety of reasons, and one of those reasons is the improper use of forceps during the delivery process.

Forceps are a metal tool routinely used during childbirth to ease the passage of the baby through the birth canal. Used correctly, forceps can assist in delivering infants who have been improperly positioned, thus reducing the risk of oxygen deprivation.

However, some want the public to be aware that when forceps are used improperly, cerebral palsy and other birth injuries may result.

Published on: November 19, 2011

Cardiac Birth Trauma

by Stephen Bilkis

Birth traumas refer to injuries that happen to an infant that result from mechanical forces (ie, compression, traction) during the birth process.

Significant birth injuries accounts for fewer than 2% of neonatal deaths and stillbirths in the United States. These occurrences do still happen occasionally and unavoidably, with an average of 6-8 injuries per 1000 live births in the U.S. Generally, larger infants are more susceptible to birth trauma; higher rates are reported for infants who weigh more than 4500 grams.

While most birth traumas have favorable outcomes, nearly one-half are potentially avoidable if recognition of risk factors happens and the medical staff anticipates and reacts to those factors. Risk factors include large-for-date infants, especially infants who weigh more than 4500 g; instrumental deliveries, especially forceps or vacuum; vaginal breech delivery; and abnormal or excessive traction during delivery. In each of these cases, information is readily available and extra care should be taken.

Published on: November 10, 2011

Quick Action Can Save Newborns from Suffocation

by Stephen Bilkis

A program dubbed Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) is championed by many doctors. A doctor from the African continent highlights a startling truth when he says, “Whenever people talk about emergency, they rarely think about children but focus on adults.” This doctor’s ability to think on his feet during emergencies have saved countless lives and he is dedicated to sharing his knowledge with his colleagues.

In Africa, local hospitals rarely have child-specific Intensive Care Units, explains NYC Birth Injury Lawyers.

Every year, roughly four million babies die globally during their first month of life.

Published on: November 7, 2011

Birth Injuries in Newborns Common

by Stephen Bilkis

A birth injury is an injury that takes place during the birthing process, and, due to the stress of labor, is not an uncommon complication. Many newborn babies have injuries at birth, although most injuries are mild. Sometimes there are more serious injuries, like damaged nerves or broken bones, but generally the injuries get better without treatment.

A New York Birth Injury Lawyer discussed how a difficult labor and delivery, where the baby is injured, usually takes place when the birth canal that the baby passes through is too small, or the baby is too large (which normally happens with gestational diabetes). If the baby is in an abnormal position, injury is more likely. Overall the amount of birth injuries have went down since previous decades due to improved prenatal testing and the availability of cesarean deliveries.

Head and brain injuries are one of the more common injuries, as the head is the first to emerge in the delivery process. Swelling of the scalp and bruising are common, but not cause for concern. Blood may accumulate below the coverings of the skull bones in a complication called cephalohematoma. These do not need treatment, and dissolve within a few months. A much less common injury is a skull fracture, which also heals without treatment unless it is a depressed fracture.

Published on: October 31, 2011

Should video be permitted in the labor and delivery room?

by Stephen Bilkis

Hospitals and health care professionals have recently revealed worry over video cameras in the labor and delivery room according to new reports from New York Birth Injury Lawyers.

“It picks up actions that a still camera might not and the sound can make a situation seem worse than it is,” commented one physician to a reporter.

Some speculate the videos presented in the courtroom give the plaintiffs an unfair advantage with the jury because in the end, most people want to help a child over an institution.