Mothers Are Dying In The United States

“Today, the US is the most dangerous place in the developed world to deliver a baby.”

That is a line straight out of a recent report by USA Today. They are right. In the United States, birth injuries that affect both the baby and mother are increasingly common. Studies have shown that doctors and nurses are not taking simple, yet necessary steps, to save the lives of mothers before, during, and after childbirth.

USA Today also found that there are more than 50,000 women severely injured in childbirth each year, mostly from preventable causes.

At the Simpson Law Group, we want you to know that we are here for you if you, a loved one, or your baby have suffered an injury in childbirth. Our San Diego birth injury attorneys will be by your side, working to secure the compensation you deserve.

What Happens?

Perhaps the USA Today story summarizes it best when discussing the thousands of women in the country who suffer life-changing injuries or die in childbirth:

“Experts sat half of those women’s lives could be saved if doctors and nurses took simple steps, including measuring blood loss during and after delivery and living timely treatment for high blood pressure.”

What Is Happening?

When it comes to birth injuries, we need to look at both the mother and the baby.

The Mother

There are many things that doctors and nurses need to be aware of, including signs of maternal distress. If medical staff is not properly monitoring a mother’s vital signs, then they may cause the mother and baby major harm. There are a myriad of problems that mothers can experience that can be treated if properly diagnosed. This can include pre-eclampsia or eclampsia. If a C-section is necessary but never called for, lives are put at risk.

Doctors need to be on the lookout for complicated deliveries that can leave the mother’s body distressed, excessive bleeding during and after the birth, uterine rupture, abnormal birth positions of the baby, and more.

The Baby

If a child is breeched or if the umbilical cord is prolapsed or wrapped around the baby’s neck, the child could suffer a loss of blood flow and oxygen. Without proper monitoring, these situations could become deadly for both mother and baby.

During childbirth, a baby can also suffer from the following:

• bone fractures (collarbone, skull, arms, legs)
• meconium aspiration
• fetal oxygen deprivation
• brain bleeds
• nerve damage.

These often happen as a result of improper use of birthing equipment or a failure to detect a mother in distress during delivery.

What Are Your Options?

If you or a loved one have suffered from an injury during childbirth, you need to seek legal assistance as soon as possible. At the Simpson Law Group, our knowledgeable and experienced team is ready to investigate your case and get to work on securing compensation for all of your pain and suffering.

We know that no amount of money can erase an injury sustained to a mother or baby during childbirth, but it can help cover the expenses. We will help secure money for the following:

• Medical expenses (current and long-term if necessary)
• Pain and suffering damages
• Punitive damages against healthcare professionals and/or the facility

When you need a San Diego birth injury attorney, you can contact us by clicking here or calling 619-236-9696 for a free consultation.