Having a baby is supposed to be one of the most joyous times in a parent’s life. Picking out a special name, buying the cute outfits and making the baby their very own room are among some of the fun things that go along with having a child. Many times the experience is wonderful and goes without any problems.
However, sometimes it does not. 6 out of 1,000 babies born in the United States each year experience some sort of birth injury. Many times, these injuries are unavoidable and due to some sort of negligence on the part of a medical staff member.
When a woman is pregnant, especially for the first time, it can be very stressful. Various thoughts can run through the mind such as:
Is my baby ok?
Am I doing anything wrong that can harm my baby?
Is my baby developing the way it should?
What if something is wrong with my child at birth?
These are all very normal concerns. One way to ease your stress is making sure you are knowledgeable and doing your part in avoiding a birth injury or defect when your child is born.
What steps can you take to avoid birth injury?
- Get the best prenatal care possible – If you have ever thought that you need to start taking good care of yourself…now is the time. Prenatal vitamins with at least 400 micrograms of folic acid are essential. Drinking plenty of water where you do not get dehydrated is priority as well as eating proper healthy foods. Also, no alcohol, smoking or drugs!
- Know your obstetrician – When I was pregnant, I remember interviewing three different doctors to see which one I was the most comfortable with. I researched each doctor to see if they had any medical malpractice suits against them. Here is some great expert advice on questions to ask and how to go about finding the doctor that is the perfect fit for you. If a doctor acts angry or annoyed that you are asking questions, that is not the one for you!
- Communicate with your doctor – When your doctor speaks to you, clarify what he or she is saying if you are uncertain. Let him know how you are feeling and any questions or concerns that you have.
- Know your baby and your body –Be aware of what is going on inside of you. Are you feeling the baby move as often as you think it should? Are you feeling bad and abnormal? Report all of these things to your doctor. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
- Be aware of what is going on in the delivery room – This is very important. If something seems odd that a nurse is asking of you, question them. Even if it makes then angry. It is your right if you need to speak to the doctor and make certain things are going how you believe they should go based on your research.
Sadly, even taking all of these measures to make sure your baby is as safe as possible, there are still unforeseeable instances of medical malpractice that occur. These can result in minor injuries, lifelong injuries as well as death of the child or mother.
Please refer to our birth injury information page for more…
If you believe that you or your child have suffered a birth injury due to medical malpractice, please contact our firm in Knoxville to schedule a consultation immediately.
