Birth injuries might call for legal action

From the moment a woman finds out she is pregnant, she is likely to seek out the best care that she can for during her pregnancy. From that moment until her baby is born, the medical team must work to ensure that she and the baby both receive care that can help them both thrive and survive.

While the woman is receiving prenatal care, the medical team has to be on the lookout for anything that might be wrong. This can include preeclampsia, preterm labor and gestational diabetes. Prenatal exams, including blood tests and ultrasounds should be used to determine if the baby is healthy and thriving. When anything isn’t right with the mother or the baby, action must be taken.

As the woman nears her due date and goes into labor, the doctors must be cognizant for signs of fetal distress. If the baby can survive outside of the womb and is in distress, doctors must weigh the pros and cons of delivering the baby and trying to keep the baby in the womb as long as possible.

When decisions have to be made about the woman and her baby, the doctors have to determine what is best for both the mother and the baby. Improper decisions or failing to keep a close eye on both patients can lead to severe health complications for the mother, her baby or both.

Health complications that were preventable might call for action to be taken. For example, the failure to do a C-section when one is obviously needed might lead to the baby suffering from lack of oxygen. That could result in a claim for compensation.