One of the most common things expecting parents will say when asked if they want a boy or girl is “I don’t care. I just want a healthy baby”. If you are a parent, you really understand that statement. Having a child is one of the best…but scary things a family can go through. The birthing process, whether natural, or through a C-Section is a traumatic experience for both the mom and baby. In the vast majority of cases a baby is born with little to no complications. In some cases there are minor bumps in the road and labor that lasts for hours. But, in some cases, the hospital, doctor and or nursing staff make medical mistakes that can affect the rest of your baby’s life.
What to look out for when you’re having a baby
For the most part you should stay out of the way of the doctors and nurses. Childbirth is very common but everyone is on high alert in case something goes wrong. With that being said, sometimes that staff can be lackadaisical because they’ve done this hundreds or thousands of times. This is a much more important event for you than anyone else in that room.
The mom will have her hands full during labor so dads should be attentive and aware of what’s going on. A very long labor process can put stress on the baby. There is an Electronic Fetal Monitoring (EFM) that will track your baby’s heart rate. You can ask the doctor where this is located in the room and what ideal heart rate range is. A sign that something is going wrong would be if the baby’s heart rate decelerates. This is know as Fetal Distress. Other common complications would by shoulder dystocia. This is when the baby is not fitting through the birth canal properly. In these cases the doctor may need to manipulate the baby by hand or with instruments like forceps or a vacuum. This introduces the possibility of injuring your baby. In some cases there may be some minor abrasions that are just part of the process but you should be on the look out for:
- A limp or paralyzed arm
- Large bruises or marks on the baby’s head
- Proper color (See Apgar Score Chart Below)
Trust your instincts! If you feel something is wrong, point it out. Your medical staff has the best intentions in mind but your extra set of eyes and ears could help prevent harm to your baby. Again, let the staff do their job. Being too involved could do more harm than good. Just be aware of what is going on around you.
Will The Hospital Admit They Injured Your Baby?
Probably not. If your baby is injured during the birthing process your doctor will most likely tell you that they did what was medially necessary to save your baby. This may be true but there may have been early warning signs the staff could have reacted to in order to avoid any injury at all. The truth is, these are very complicated situations and you would need an expert to look into your specific scenario to understand if they hospital is at fault. If something like this happened to you, it’s normal to have lots of questions. If your baby has cerebral palsy, Erb’s Palsy, or other cognitive or physical injuries…you should really talk to someone. We will happily introduce you to a professional in your area that has years of handling medical issues like this. There will be no charge to you and you can get answers to the questions that are keeping you up at night.
What If I Really Like My Doctor?
Most of us really like the doctors we have. They are there to help us in some of the most traumatic and stressful times of our lives. But, we are all human and prone to making mistakes. If you talk to one of our experience professional we can guarantee your confidentiality. It doesn’t hurt to ask questions to find out if the hospital took all of the necessary steps to keep your baby healthy. If our partner feels like there is fault from the doctor or hospital, you are in control of what happens next. They will provide you a couple of options and likely outcomes and you can decide what to do…if anything.
What If I Signed A Waiver That Says I Can’t Sue The Hospital?
That doesn’t mean anything. You cannot sign away your right to sue someone for negligence. If you sign a waiver before you go skydiving and the instructor forgets to put on a parachute, you can sue that facility for all it’s worth.
People have a lot of good reasons for not wanting to get involved in the legal system. Some think it’s too expensive. We will only introduce you to an attorney who works on a contingency fee. That means you pay nothing unless they win your case. Others do not consider themselves to be litigious. That is understandable but the future of your baby’s health, care and lifestyle could be dependant on the financial resources you have access to. Some of the injuries that happen during childbirth can last a lifetime. If the hospital was at fault, they should be covering all of your expenses.
In some cases people do not want to sue the hospital because it is the only one in their area and they think they won’t have access to proper healthcare. This is a reasonable concern and one of our attorneys can personally guide you through your options. It doesn’t hurt to call and talk to someone. All you need to do is reach out to be connected to someone who can help.