Medical malpractice is always devastating, but it can be especially harrowing to see a newborn struggling with health issues because of negligence from a medical professional. Birth injuries can have life-altering consequences for babies, in particular when they involve oxygen deprivation.
If your child suffered a birth injury in Atlanta, Georgia, because of negligence, what can you do? At Georgia Baby Safety, our team of Atlanta birth asphyxia lawyers can assist you in the process of pursuing a medical malpractice case. Contact our law office at (404) 721-1050 for a free consultation and learn more about the most common causes of birth asphyxia and why having our team by your side can be crucial.
How Georgia Baby Safety Can Help With a Birth Asphyxia Case in Atlanta, GA
Asphyxia injuries can have catastrophic consequences because of how they can impact a newborn’s brain. If your child has suffered this type of harm, you are likely dealing with serious medical bills and the uncertainty of how much help your child may need for the rest of their life. If another party was responsible for the injury, you may be entitled to file a claim.
At Georgia Baby Safety, our Atlanta birth injury lawyers can help you fight for your rights.
We offer services that include:
- Evaluating the claim to ensure we can help
- Investigating how the asphyxia occurred
- Gathering relevant evidence to strengthen your malpractice claim
- Calculating your family’s full losses
- Negotiating with insurance companies for a fair settlement
- Taking the case to court if a settlement cannot be reached
We are dedicated to giving a voice to the children and families of Atlanta, Georgia, who have suffered as a result of medical negligence. We bring five decades of combined legal experience to the table, which has allowed us to secure significant medical malpractice verdicts and settlements. Schedule a free consultation to speak with one of our Atlanta birth asphyxia attorneys about your case.
Understanding Birth Asphyxia and Its Most Common Causes
Birth asphyxia occurs when an infant’s brain and other organs do not receive enough oxygen before, during, or right after delivery. Some signs that your child has suffered this type of injury include seeing a pale or bluish tint to their skin, noticing breathing issues and a low heart rate, and spotting poor reflexes. Several circumstances can cause this injury.
Placental Problems
If the placenta doesn’t develop correctly or detaches prematurely (called placental abruption), the baby will be cut off from the oxygen supply their mother provides. The placenta may also not transfer oxygen as well as it should. This is an issue that is more common in difficult pregnancies.
With appropriate monitoring throughout the pregnancy, many of the placental issues that could put your child at risk could be avoided. However, if the mother receives improper prenatal care, these complications will likely not be caught in time to prevent injury.
Maternal Illnesses
Maternal illnesses have a significant impact on the risk of the infant suffering oxygen deprivation. If conditions like preeclampsia are present and go unaddressed, there could be a serious reduction of blood flow to the placenta. Maternal anemia and infections can cause this problem, too.
If the mother experiences respiratory failure or cardiac arrest, the baby will also be deprived of the oxygen they need. It is up to healthcare providers to monitor the mother and the baby throughout the gestational period and during delivery. With careful assessments, blood pressure problems and infections can be addressed before they cause irreparable harm.
Labor and Delivery Complications
A prolonged or difficult labor is highly stressful for the baby and mother. The baby can experience reduced blood flow, which doesn’t allow oxygen to reach their organs. This is particularly common when the baby is too large to be born easily and gets stuck behind the mother’s pelvis.
If the mother experiences uterine rupture, which can occur when the uterus contracts too frequently without relaxing, the child would not receive the oxygen supply they need.
Airway Blockages
Medical professionals must ensure the child’s airways are clear right after birth and that they remain so. Fluid, mucus, and malformations could block the airways and require immediate intervention from doctors to prevent asphyxiation.
Contact Our Atlanta Birth Asphyxia Attorneys for a Free Consultation
Although not all potential causes of birth asphyxia are preventable, many of them are. If a medical professional did not provide the standard of care your child deserved, you may be entitled to begin a medical malpractice claim.
At Georgia Baby Safety, we can guide you through the complexities of this legal process so that you can focus on helping your child. Schedule a free consultation with an Atlanta birth asphyxia lawyer to get started.