Fayetteville, AR Lawyer for Injuries to the Mother or Child During Childbirth

Childbirth should not be an experience where a mother or child suffers a serious injury due to the negligence of a doctor. Unfortunately, many mothers and newborns receive inadequate natal care that results in a serious injury. If you or your child was injured during delivery, you should consult with an experienced Fayetteville lawyer for injuries to a mother or infant during childbirth.

Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, recognizes how a serious birth injury can impact you and your family, and he is here to provide you with the aggressive legal representation that you deserve. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your injury claim, contact Ken Kieklak at (479) 316-0438.

Common Birth Injuries to a Mother or Child in Fayetteville, AR

A maternal birth injury or a birth injury to a child could occur under a variety of circumstances. Many birth injuries are the result of a doctor failing to exercise the appropriate standard of care when treating a mother or child. While there are various types of birth injuries, there are many common birth injuries that occur frequently in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Common Maternal Birth Injuries

During pregnancy, a mother requires consistent visits with her doctor to monitor her health and that of her child. During these prenatal appointments, a doctor should be able to diagnose any pregnancy-related health issues that could cause the mother to be injured.

One common maternal health issue is preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication where a mother experiences high blood pressure, among various other symptoms. If a doctor fails to diagnose a mother with preeclampsia, she can suffer severe organ damage. If this occurs, a doctor could be held liable for the mother’s injuries.

There are various instances where a doctor may suggest that it is safer for a mother or child to have a cesarean section. A cesarean section is an alternative form of childbirth where a doctor will make an incision in the mother’s lower abdomen in order to deliver a child. However, if the doctor makes an improper incision or cuts too deep, the doctor could cause the mother to suffer severe hemorrhaging or could puncture an organ.

Hemorrhaging can also be caused if a doctor inappropriately administers drugs to speed up the labor process. Pitocin is a drug that is often used to increase a mother’s contractions and allow the delivery of a child to occur sooner. However, the rapid contractions caused by this drug could result in a mother losing more blood than normal during childbirth.

There are other types of maternal injuries not listed above. Our firm could help you pursue a medical malpractice claim if you were injured during childbirth.

Common Newborn Birth Injuries

Improper medical care in Fayetteville, AR can often be the cause of a newborn suffering a serious birth injury. One common type of birth injury that may occur is a brachial plexus injury. The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that have control of movement and sensation in a person’s hands and arms. As a result, if a baby suffers an injury to their brachial plexus, they can suffer a loss of sensation or decreased movement in their arm.

An injury to the brachial plexus can occur if a newborn’s shoulder becomes caught in the mother’s pelvis. This typically happens if a mother’s pelvis is not large enough for the child to exit safely or if the baby is larger than average.

Traumatic head injuries can also occur if a doctor does not exercise caution when delivering a child. For example, when a mother has a difficult labor, a doctor may employ the use of birth-assisting tools like forceps and vacuum extractors to help deliver a child. However, if a doctor uses excessive force when trying to deliver a child using an instrument, they could easily bruise or seriously injure a fragile newborn.

Cerebral palsy is another common birth injury that a newborn may develop due to malpractice. A newborn often develops cerebral palsy when they suffer a serious head injury. For example, if a child is dropped on their head, this can be a cause of cerebral palsy.

This is not an exhaustive list of birth injuries that can affect a newborn. If you believe your doctor’s negligence was the result of a serious injury, you should speak with an experienced attorney today. Remember, your case is subject to the statute of limitations, which means you only have a limited amount of time to pursue your claim.

Our Trusted Fayetteville Birth Injury Attorney is Ready to Work with You

If your child was the victim of medical malpractice during delivery, contact an experienced Fayetteville birth injury attorney for injuries to the mother or child. Birth injury attorney Ken Kieklak possesses over 20 years of litigation experience, and he would be honored to use this experience to fight for you. To schedule a free case evaluation, contact Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, at (479) 316-0438. You can also contact the firm online.