Labor and delivery should be filled with hope and joy. Sadly, medical mistakes can turn this special moment into a devastating experience. Families facing birth injuries caused by negligence often feel overwhelmed and alone. That is why working with an experienced birth injury lawyer in Syracuse can make a life-changing difference. At Gillette & Izzo Law Office, we fight to protect families, hold negligent providers accountable, and seek the justice children and parents deserve.

Common Types of Obstetric Negligence

During delivery, doctors and nurses hold the lives of both mother and baby in their hands. This incredibly complex process requires obstetricians, anesthesiologists, nurses, and other medical professionals to handle their patients with the utmost care to avoid injuries. When healthcare providers neglect their duty to their patients, serious injuries can result.

Failure to Diagnose and Treat Pregnancy Complications

Health problems during pregnancy can be dangerous for the mother and baby, and complications can present in a number of ways. It is crucial that doctors watch for the signs and symptoms of pregnancy complications so that they can be treated properly. Some of the most common complications include:

• Gestational diabetes

• Preeclampsia

• Infections

• Preterm labor

When complications are missed, mothers and babies face unnecessary risks.

Improper Use of Delivery Instruments

Basic medical tools and supplies like scissors, gauze, clamps, and speculums are commonplace in delivery rooms. Forceps and vacuum devices are sometimes necessary to assist with delivery. When used correctly, they can help. When misused, they may cause lasting injuries. Negligent use of tools is a preventable cause of harm.

Delayed Cesarean Section

A cesarean section is often the safest option for complicated deliveries. About 32% of births in the U.S. involve a C-section. A delay in performing one can expose both mother and child to life-threatening risks.

Failure to Monitor Fetal Distress

Fetal distress can appear as an abnormal heart rate or reduced movement. Proper treatment may include repositioning the mother, giving oxygen, inducing labor, or performing a timely C-section. When doctors fail to recognize or treat fetal distress, the consequences for the mother and baby can be catastrophic.

Medication Errors

Medication mistakes can occur at any stage, from prescribing to administering. Anesthesiologists, nurses, nursing assistants, obstetricians, pharmacists, and many other healthcare providers are responsible for ensuring patients receive their medication correctly. The wrong type, incorrect dosage, or late administration can have severe effects on mother and child.

Failure to Manage Postpartum Complications

Risks do not end after delivery. Mothers may face postpartum complications such as stroke, infection, blood clots, high blood pressure, or adverse reactions to medication. When these are not managed, the results can be catastrophic.

Birth Injuries Caused by Obstetric Negligence

The birthing process is naturally a stressful experience for babies, but if a delivery causes significant or long-lasting trauma, there may be another explanation. When deliveries go wrong due to negligence, babies may suffer injuries with lifelong consequences. Labor and delivery complications have the potential to cause a wide range of injuries to newborn babies, but there are a few that are more commonly seen.

Brachial Plexus Injuries

A brachial plexus injury damages the nerves that connect the spinal cord and the arm, and these nerves control movement, function, and sensation in the shoulder, chest, arms, and hands. A number of labor and delivery complications can cause brachial plexus injuries, including breech presentation and prolonged second stage of labor. Brachial plexus nerves can be classified as a stretch, rupture, or avulsion, each with varying levels of severity. Avulsions are considered the most severe and can cause life-threatening complications like difficulty breathing.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that affects muscle tone, posture, and movement. It may result from oxygen deprivation, preterm birth, or misuse of medical tools. Symptoms in infants include stiffness, delayed development, or excessive irritability.

Fractured Bones

Babies can sustain fractures during delivery due to medical errors like delaying a C-section, failing to recognize a breech presentation, or misuse of delivery instruments. Broken bones that occur during childbirth may also be accompanied by other delivery complications, such as nerve damage. When infant fractures occur, the most common types are clavicle, femur, and skull fractures.

Spinal Cord Injuries

A newborn’s spine is especially fragile and susceptible to injury because the tissue surrounding the spinal cord is not fully developed at birth. Injuries can occur due to prolonged pressure and other physical trauma caused by medical errors and negligence.

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)

When infants are deprived of oxygen during delivery, they may develop hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE. Obstetricians who fail to monitor fetal distress, delay c-section delivery, or misdiagnose medications during labor can cause impaired blood flow and oxygen to the infant’s brain, resulting in HIE.

Get the Legal Support You Deserve

If you believe medical negligence caused your baby’s injuries, you are not alone. Working with a knowledgeable birth injury lawyer Syracuse families trust can help you take the next step. At Gillette & Izzo Law Office, Josh and Janet are here to stand with you. We guide families through complex claims and fight for the justice they deserve.

Learn more about our Medical Malpractice services. If you are ready to talk, contact Gillette & Izzo Law Office today for a free and confidential consultation.