California Birth Injury Attorneys Handling Delivery Trauma Claims

Delivering a baby can be traumatic, even under the best of circumstances. An act of medical negligence can increase the trauma and the risk, leading to catastrophic, life-altering injuries to the mother and the baby. Some of the most serious complications and conditions include:

• Uterine rupture. If the uterus tears during delivery, the baby must be delivered immediately to avoid any long-term injury. The mother is also at risk of hemorrhage, which can be fatal to mom and cause severe oxygen deprivation and brain injury in the baby. It is often the result of a misuse of uterine stimulants or a delay in diagnosing a severe disproportion between the size of the baby (too big) and the birth canal (called cephalopelvic disproportion or CPD).
• Umbilical cord injury. The umbilical cord is the lifeline between a mother and her child. If the cord is damaged, or if there is a complication, and if the condition is not immediately addressed, it will lead to oxygen deprivation which can cause permanent brain damage.
• Vasa previa. A potentially life-threatening condition where “fetal blood vessel(s) from the placenta or umbilical cord cross the entrance to the birth canal, beneath the baby. Vasa previa can result in rapid fetal hemorrhage (occurs from the vessels tearing when the cervix dilates or membranes rupture) or lack of oxygen (if the vessels become pinched off as they are compressed between the baby and the walls of the birth canal).” Though rare, vasa previa has an estimated 95% fatality rate when it is not diagnosed and addressed in a timely manner.
• Placenta previa. Placenta previa occurs when a baby’s placenta partially or totally covers the mother’s cervix, the outlet for the uterus. If not properly diagnosed and monitored, placental previa can lead to serious complications including life-threatening vaginal bleeding (hemorrhage) can occur during labor, delivery and immediately after delivery.
• Placental abruption. An uncommon but serious complication, placental abruption occurs when the placenta partially or completely separates from the inner wall of the uterus before delivery. If not properly treated, it can lead to severe blood loss to the mother and premature birth, oxygen deprivation to the baby causing brain injury or even stillbirth.
• Macrosomia. Refers to a condition where the baby is significantly larger than average. The condition often occurs due to maternal condition such as diabetes or due to genetic factors. When the baby is too large to be delivered vaginally, doctors should immediately prepare for a C-section. If they do not, or if they force labor through the use of drugs like Pitocin, the mother can suffer a pelvic fracture or a uterine rupture. Left undiagnosed, these fractures can complicate future pregnancies, or cause long-term damage to the mother, including incontinence.
• Shoulder dystocia. When the baby’s shoulders get stuck inside the mother’s pelvis during labor, doctors must intervene quickly to move the shoulders through the canal. Long-term complications of shoulder dystocia, while rare, can include injuries to the mother and to the baby including oxygen deprivation which can cause brain damage.
• Brachial plexus / Erb’s palsy. This refers to paralysis of one of the infant’s arms as a result of trauma to the armpit in trying incorrectly to move a baby where there is CPD. The baby is usually oversize, often as a result of undiagnosed or poorly monitored gestational diabetes. It is often associated with baby oxygen deprivation and brain injury because of the prolonged delivery.
• Forceps and vacuum extraction. Forceps and vacuum extractors are useful tools during delivery, but only when they are handled correctly. If an OB/GYN, nurse, doula, or midwife is negligent, the baby can sustain serious, life-long injuries. Among the most catastrophic injuries to both child and mother is uterine rupture which could cause the mother to hemorrhage, can lead to oxygen deprivation leading to brain damage to the baby, and may even lead be fatal for the mom and baby.