Birth is a dangerous time for expectant mothers and their unborn children. While labor and delivery are largely natural processes, issues can arise with little warning. Unborn infants may move into improper positions, resulting in stalled labor. Internal tearing can put a woman at risk of life-threatening blood loss.
Most modern births take place in hospitals or specialized birth centers under the observation of licensed professionals. Unfortunately, medical professionals may sometimes cause birth injuries instead of preventing them. There are countless ways for people to complicate the birth process and cause harm to the mother or her unborn child. The three mistakes below are among the most common causes of preventable birth injuries in medical settings.
1. Insufficient fetal monitoring
Women going through labor can report changes in their condition to nurses and doctors. They can speak up about their pain or their sense of dizziness. Unborn infants have no means of communicating with the outside world. The only way to detect fetal distress before something goes horribly wrong is typically through fetal heart rate monitoring. Best practices for labor and delivery require consistent fetal heart rate monitoring throughout the active labor process. Failing to use fetal heart rate monitors or to respond to signs of distress can lead to preventable, potentially catastrophic birth injuries.
2. Selecting the wrong intervention
Although labor often progresses naturally, issues can arise. Health care professionals need to move quickly when there are signs of risk to the mother or the unborn child. Choosing the right interventions is of the utmost importance. If physicians use the wrong types of treatment, such as drugs not approved for administration during pregnancy and labor, the results can prove tragic.
3. Making mistakes during interventions
Appropriate birth interventions require appropriate planning by a physician. In some cases, they can use drugs to speed up the labor process. Medications can help intensify contractions or assist with the dilation of the cervix. Other medications may help a woman relax by alleviating her pain, thereby making it possible for her to proceed with the delivery. During vaginal delivery, physicians may use interventions, including specialized vacuum systems and forceps. Improperly administering interventions can lead to injuries such as damage to the neck or eye injuries for the infant. Mistakes during interventions can also cause injury to the mother, such as excessive tissue damage and blood loss.
Identifying choices that may have caused birth injuries could help families seek justice. A medical malpractice lawsuit could compensate families for medical expenses and other economic consequences that arise because of preventable birth injuries.