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Posted On: June 29, 2010

Gestational Diabetes and Obesity Linked to Increased Birth Weight in Babies

Parents who suffer from a combination of gestational diabetes (GDM) and obesity have recently been linked to an increased chance of delivering children with macrosomia. Macrosomia, having a very high birth weight, can lead to various birth injuries if not recognized and approached correctly by a patient’s doctor.

A recent investigation reported by Dr. Metzger, M.D., of Northwestern University School of Medicine in Chicago found that obese women had a 13.6% increased chance of delivering a baby with macrosomia compared to women of a healthy weight. If an obese woman then develops gestational diabetes her risk of delivering a macrosomic child is 20.2% above that of a woman of normal weight.

Delivering a baby with a high birth weight takes much more finesse than delivering a baby of normal weight. If a doctor fails to recognize that a baby is macrosomic they may not be able to take the necessary precautions to minimize the risks posed by the delivery. According to Allahyar Jazayeri, M.D. in an article posted by emedicine, attempts at perinatal diagnosis of macrosomia have proven difficult and are often inaccurate so a doctor should always be prepared for the possible complications of macrosomia.

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Posted In: Birth Injury Prevention, Birth Injury Treatment, Current Issues, Illinois Birth Injury, Medical Malpractice Lawsuit, Shoulder Dystocia

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Posted On: June 23, 2010

Birth Injury Contributed to Medical Malpractice Awarded $1.4 Million

The Supreme Court in British Columbia awarded in excess of $1.4 million U.S. dollars in a medical malpractice lawsuit involving a child suffering from severe cerebral palsy. The child’s mother sued the health authority overseeing the hospital, a doctor and two nurses over the child’s cerebral palsy which was attributed to a placental abruption. A placental abruption occurs when the placenta peels away from the inner wall of the uterus before delivery. Placental abruption can deprive the baby of oxygen and nutrients and cause heavy bleeding in the mother. According to mayoclinic.com placental abruption is an uncommon and serious complication of pregnancy and requires immediate medical attention. It is crucial for healthcare providers to determine a newborn's risk for placental abruption in order to develop a plan of action in the event that a birth complication occurs. When practitioners are properly prepared to address complications in a timely fashion, they reduce a child's risk for birth injuries such as cerebral palsy.

In the case at hand, the medical malpractice of the personnel involved led to an interruption in the supply of oxygen to the child’s brain. If a baby suffers from oxygen deprivation during birth, this may cause brain damage which can result in cerebral palsy. The child’s mother argued that her physicians and nurse failed to properly consider the signs indicating the onset of the abruption and to intensely monitor the fetus’ health during labor among other things. The Judge in the case stated that the injuries to the child were catastrophic citing her inability to ever walk and most likely not developing intelligence beyond that of a four-year-old.

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Posted In: Placenta Separation

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Posted On: June 14, 2010

Cooling Blankets Help Reduce the Effects of Birth Injuries

Parents of children who suffer birth injuries now can seek post-natal treatment for their newborns to reverse brain damage. A researcher at the University of Florida has discovered that the use of cooling blankets within six hours of birth may help to reduce the effects of brain damage in infants. WPTV and the Examiner.com report that these findings come after an 18 month study that looked at how these medical devices may help babies by essentially cooling their brains. This new treatment will help babies who have suffered brain damage during birth due to a low blood supply or lack of oxygen. A lack of oxygen can occur when the placenta separates from the mother’s uterus too early, and may also occur if the umbilical cord becomes wrapped around an infant’s neck or is compressed during the birthing process. When these complications happen during birth, practitioners have very little time to extract the baby before brain damage can occur. This brain damage can lead to cerebral palsy, seizure, blindness and even death.

The cooling blankets are effective at treating newborns who are under six hours old. The babies are wrapped in the cooling blankets for 72 hours and during this time their body temperature drops to 91 degrees. This drop in body temperature reduces cerebral edema, or swelling of the brain, to prevent further damage. The treatment has proven effective in reducing death and neurological defects. This is the first treatment available to reduce brain injuries in infants.

Although the treatment is currently only available in teaching hospitals, it is promising to hear that researchers are finding ways to reduce the devastating effects of brain injuries at birth. When children suffer brain injuries at birth, the impact on both the child and its family is great. In many instances, these children must endure life-long medical treatment and care which can lead to millions in medical expenses over a lifetime. Hopefully, the number of children severely injured by brain injuries will drop with this new medical procedure.

To read more about the new treatment to reduce brain damage due to birth injuries, follow the link.

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Posted In: Cerebral Palsy, Current Issues, Fetus/Fetal Asphyxia, Placenta Separation

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Posted On: June 1, 2010

$23.3 Million Birth Injury Verdict Awarded to Mother and Son

A jury recently awarded over $23 million to 5-year-old boy and his mother in a birth malpractice trial in Milwaukee that lasted over two weeks. The jury found the woman’s doctor negligent for the birth injury her son sustained during delivery in 2005. According to a report in the Journal Sentinel, the boy suffers from cerebral palsy as a result of the brain damage that he sustained during his delivery. The jury found the doctor negligent for failing to perform a C-section despite the woman’s prolonged labor and signs of distress. Instead of a C-section, the doctor ordered a medical resident to deliver the baby with forceps.

Most likely, the child’s brain damage was the result of hypoxia, or lack of oxygen. When complications arise during the labor and delivery process, it can cause a newborn’s oxygen supply to be cut off. When a child goes without sufficient oxygen for an extended period of time, this can lead to brain damage which can cause conditions like cerebral palsy. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke defines cerebral palsy as term used to describe a number of neurological disorders that affect one’s movement and coordination. The effects of cerebral palsy can range in severity, but in many instances sufferers will have to undergo lifelong medical care and treatments. In the above example, the damages will help to compensate for future medical costs as well as the loss of future potential income and pain and suffering.

To learn more about the recent birth injury verdict, follow the hyperlink.

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Posted In: Birth Injury Trial, C-Section Delay, Cerebral Palsy, Medical Malpractice Lawsuit, Verdicts and Settlements

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The purpose of this blog is to deliver news and information that is relevant to our areas of practice. The news and information reported on this blog represent the legal actions of attorneys throughout the United States. Our firm does not claim to represent plaintiffs in all of the lawsuits, settlements, and jury verdicts reported, only those noted as Levin & Perconti cases.

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