Can Parents Prevent Birth Injuries?

Expecting parents are overwhelmed with excitement when bringing their child into the world. However, it has been found that 8 out of every 1,000 newborn suffer from a birth injury in the United States. While this is a smaller percentage, parents fear that a small error during pregnancy will lead to the injury of their child. A Phoenix birth injury lawyer can vouch for the hardships that lie ahead for families with children suffering from these injuries. Therefore, it is important for expecting families to gain understanding of the situation so they can lower their risk and prevent birth injuries.

Birth defect vs. birth injury

A birth defect is a health problem that affects a newborn, based on the child’s DNA. Health problems stemming from DNA structure include: Down syndrome, cleft palate, heart murmur, and much more. There are some circumstantial scenarios where birth defects are not entirely part of a child’s DNA makeup. Outside factors have been shown to cause birth defects, including some medications women take while pregnant.

A birth injury, on the other hand, is a health problem is sustained during the birthing process and is generally caused by a preventable action. Common causes of birth injuries include:

- Newborn body contortion during delivery

- Incorrect use of assistant tools

- Failure to performs and emergency C-section

- Failure to monitor newborn vitals during delivery

- Lack of oxygen to a distressed newborn

Prevent Birth Injuries

Parents can minimize their child’s risk of a birth injury at the start of the pregnancy. Below are a few tips for a healthy pregnancy:

- Know your risk factors. Your family history & current health condition can play a role in the risk of a birth injury. Seek information on any current or historical conditions and determine how you can relieve any risks associated

- Prenatal Vitamins. It is important to take the necessary vitamins that your body may need help producing during pregnancy. Folic acid, calcium, and iron are commonly deficient in a woman and can be supplemented through prenatal vitamins.

- Stick to recommended diet/exercise. While prenatal vitamins help a woman meet their daily nutrition, a healthy diet and exercise routine catered specifically to you will be extremely beneficial during pregnancy.

- Research any medication you might be taking. There have been many cases where medications you are prescribed to can cause harm to your child during pregnancy. Zofran, for example, has recently been a controversial topic for pregnant women. This medication used for nausea has actually been found to cause birth defects. Other medications that could seriously affect your pregnancy include: Lexapro, Yaz, Prozac, and Accutane, Consult with your obstetrician about any medication you were previously taking as well as what you currently take.

- Monitor baby’s movements during final weeks of pregnancy. Keeping track of your child’s movement can be a great indicator of any potential dangers. Counting the amount of kicks, for example, can help you determine if there is a sudden increase of decrease in activity, indicators of potential health dangers.

Unfortunately, many cases are caused by medical negligence and may be out of the parents’ hands. A medical malpractice lawyer, with experience in medical negligence, can help if you find yourself in this position.