Birth Injury

Each year, the March of Dimes hands out report cards to every state in the country regarding maternal and infant health. This year, for the first time, they are including maternal mortality, leading causes of infant death, and risk factors for preterm birth. Washington, DC has scored a C- on the report card this year,…

Allyson Felix, renowned Olympic sprinter, recently shared her personal experience in an interview with Meet the Press, shedding light on the significant risks Black mothers face during pregnancy. Felix expressed her surprise at being at risk and emphasized the importance of being informed about potential complications, particularly preeclampsia, a condition she was unfamiliar with. Despite…

Having a baby should be an exciting time for a mother. While many babies are delivered without a problem, there are also many instances where there is a problem or issue during the pregnancy, leading to an early delivery. Having a preterm birth is a scary time, as it can be dangerous for the baby.…

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a condition that can affect a person for the rest of their life. While the condition itself will not worsen, the symptoms and risks associated with this disorder can become worse over time, causing individuals to develop long-term complications. As a result, many children with cerebral palsy may experience chronic pain,…

A soon-to-be-mother thinks about what the birth of her child will be like throughout her entire pregnancy. No matter how many stories she hears or videos she watches, she knows it’s one of those things that you have to experience to really know how it’s going to work. Babies just aren’t predictable. Still, she knows…

The first descriptor that pops up when we look at stories about Tori Bowie is that she was an Olympian. Then, those stories  mention that she took the gold medal in Rio. Then, they say she died from complications of childbirth. The Associate Medical Examiner in Orange County labeled her death as “natural causes… citing…

During labor and delivery, traumatic events can occur that may lead to serious consequences for both the mother and the baby. One specific complication that can arise is shoulder dystocia, where the baby’s shoulders become lodged during delivery. This can be a distressing and dangerous situation, potentially resulting in significant injuries. Unfortunately, medical negligence can…

Perhaps the only greater pain of losing a child is knowing that the loss could have been prevented. Stillbirths happen more often than we might believe, and education on when to be concerned about it is not as thorough as it should be. The concerns of mothers-to-be are too often overlooked or waved-off, dismissing them…

Falling down icy steps or getting into a car accident is a traumatic experience, but it is doubly so when you’re pregnant. Not only are you concerned about the injuries to yourself, but to your unborn baby as well. Trauma to a fetus while the mother is pregnant could just cause temporary injuries, but life-long…

It’s no secret that carrying and delivering a baby is a miracle, even by today’s standards. Having a healthy and safe delivery is every parent’s dream. Complications are not uncommon, though, and can often be treated and dealt with in a safe manner. One such complication includes breech deliveries, and while breech deliveries result in…

There is a reason why birth injuries are considered catastrophic injuries. The process of childbirth is a very delicate process where mother, baby, or both can suffer harm during labor and delivery. Even though some birth injuries can stem from a high-risk pregnancy, medical professionals can act negligently during the delivery process, causing severe birth…

When people witness a seizure occurring, the assumption is that the person experiencing the seizure is in pain. The person has lost control of their body; they are convulsing on the floor. It would be a reasonable assumption that the person experiencing the seizure is suffering in some form or fashion. With seizures, however, that…

Welcoming a baby into the world is usually (and should be) a joyous occasion. When your baby is born prematurely, however, this joyous event can quickly turn to worry and concern. Premature babies, or preemies, require much more care and attention to their health, especially with feeding and nursing. Many preemies have trouble with nursing…

Nace Law Group obtained a $10.8 million jury verdict against Raleigh General Hospital (Beckley, West Virginia) and the United States of America on behalf of a child who developed cerebral palsy as a result of oxygen deprivation at the time of birth. Nace Law Group partners Barry J. Nace and Matthew A. Nace worked on…

When you are getting ready to give birth you are fully focused on everything you have to look forward to after your child enters the world. There will be so much to do once you get through the birthing process and bring your sweet bundle of joy home. Few parents are prepared for how it…

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is the technical, medical term for a type of brain damage resulting from an interruption in the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain. Newborns are particularly affected by this condition when they have experienced oxygen deprivation (or birth asphyxia) close to or at the time of birth. Therapeutic hypothermia is currently…

Brain trauma is one of the most devastating diagnoses a doctor can give to the parents of a newborn child. Conditions like cerebral palsy, Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy, umbilical cord issues: these are the conditions that nightmares are made of. Even “mild” brain trauma is serious, and can lead to difficulties for the rest of the…

The immediate answer to this question is no; COVID-19 cannot cause birth injuries directly. However, there are circumstances that could arise due to COVID-19 that could lead to neonatal injuries for the baby. Over the past few months, studies have been conducted to determine if pregnant women, women who gave birth during the pandemic, and…

Preeclampsia is a life-threatening condition that develops during a woman’s pregnancy. If the condition is left untreated or undiagnosed, preeclampsia may lead to eclampsia, condition causing seizures. Both preeclampsia and eclampsia are very serious health conditions for the mother. Other than the safe delivery of the baby, there is no medical cure for preeclampsia or…

Babies in the womb receive all of their nutrients and oxygen from the blood of the mother through the umbilical cord. However, if this crucial connection becomes compromised, the infant can suffer serious health complications, including a deprivation of oxygen and a disruption of proper growth. These issues can lead to additional birth injuries for…

A major USA TODAY study found that hospitals are performing much too may episiotomies despite nationwide guidelines that call for the procedure to only be used in the case of emergencies. Since 2006, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has advised performing the procedure sparingly. “Mothers who receive episiotomies – an incision at the…