Fayetteville, AR Hemorrhage + Blood Loss During Birth Injury Attorney
A birth injury to their newborn is the last scenario new parents expect when their child is born. Unfortunately, many new parents are forced to deal with a birth injury to their child because a negligent medical practitioner failed to handle their child with care. If your child was the victim of a serious birth injury and suffered hemorrhaging, contact an experienced Fayetteville birth injury lawyer today.
The Kieklak Law Firm understands how traumatizing it can be to watch your child suffer a serious injury during delivery, and we are here for you. Our firm will help you hold a negligent medical practitioner accountable for their actions. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your options, contact the Kieklak Law Firm at (479) 279-6267, or contact us online.
Birth Injuries that Cause Intracranial and Extracranial Hemorrhages
Intracranial and extracranial hemorrhages, also known as brain bleeds, is a birth injury that can be caused by several different reasons. One of the most common causes of a brain bleed is medical malpractice on behalf of a doctor responsible for a mother’s delivery. The doctor may put the child in a position where they are cut off from oxygen or may exercise too much force when pulling the child from the womb.
Brain bleeds can be categorized into two types: intracranial and extracranial. Intracranial hemorrhages happen inside a child’s brain, and extracranial hemorrhages happen just outside of the brain. The following is a list of the various types of intracranial and extracranial hemorrhages that can be caused by medical malpractice.
Intracranial Hemorrhages
Hemorrhagic strokes are one type of injury that may occur to an infant that suffers a head injury at birth. A hemorrhagic stroke happens when a blood vessel ruptures; this will then cause the brain to flood with blood. This flooding may result in the swelling of the brain and lead to the child’s brain cells being deprived of oxygen. In severe cases, hemorrhagic strokes may cause a child to suffer neonatal brain damage that can cause permanent damage.
Hemorrhagic strokes are divided into two categories: intracerebral hemorrhages and subarachnoid hemorrhages. Intracerebral hemorrhages affect the blood vessels inside the brain while subarachnoid hemorrhages affect the innermost membranes that line the brain.
Intraventricular hemorrhages are another type of intracranial hemorrhage. This condition is identified by blood flooding the ventricular system of a child where cerebrospinal fluid is located. This is dangerous because the cerebrospinal fluid is responsible for various functions like protecting the spinal cord from trauma and supplying nutrients to tissues in a person’s nervous system. If blood is allowed to pool in the ventricular system, a child may develop several other disorders.
Extracranial Hemorrhages
Caput succedaneum (CS) may occur when a child’s extracranial area pools with blood, causing the scalp to swell. This condition is dangerous because the blood can affect the sutures designed to hold the bones of the skull together.
The misuse of a vacuum extractor often causes CS. A vacuum extractor may be used by a physician to help in the delivery of a baby. The device is supposed to be attached to the scalp of the infant in order to pull them from the womb. However, if a physician exercises too much force when using this device, they can inflict trauma upon the child and cause hemorrhaging.
Cephalohematomas are another type of hemorrhaging injury that is caused by the improper use of birthing tools. Cephalohematomas are caused by ruptured blood vessels that then lead to bleeding between an infant’s skull and tissue that lines the skull.
If a doctor improperly uses forceps, this can cause a child to develop a cephalohematoma. Forceps are a tong-like device that attaches to the body part of a child to allow the doctor to guide the child through the birth canal. Similar to the vacuum extractor, utilizing excessive force with forceps can be dangerous for a child. While a cephalohematoma may heal on its own after some time, it is wise to keep an eye on the injury as it could also become worse.
There are many other types of birth injuries that could lead to an infant suffering from hemorrhaging. If you need assistance determining whether your doctor or the hospital they are employed by was responsible for injuries to your child, we are ready to work with you.
Work with Our Trusted Fayetteville Birth Hemorrhage Lawyer Today
If your child suffered a birth injury that caused them to have hemorrhaging or blood loss, consult with an experienced Fayetteville medical malpractice lawyer today. Injury lawyer Ken Kieklak possesses over 20 years of legal experience, and he is dedicated to helping you pursue compensation for injuries to your child. To schedule a free legal consultation, contact the Kieklak Law Firm at (479) 279-6267.