When a woman is pregnant, the unborn child receives nourishment and oxygen through an organ called the placenta. This organ also disposes of the baby’s waste, and essentially keeps the baby alive up until the point he or she is delivered.
If the placenta is ruptured, detached or torn before the child is born, however, this is called a placental abruption birth injury, and it could have serious and even fatal repercussions for both the mother and baby. An Elyria birth injury lawyer can represent families that suffered unnecessary trauma through a birth injury.
How does placental abruption happen?
If a placental abruption happens, the mother could suffer hemorrhaging and internal bleeding. It also disrupts the blood flow to the baby, causing a lack of oxygen and increasing the risk of birth injury, neurological problems and brain damage. A placental abruption can even cause death to the child.
A placental abruption can happen any time during the pregnancy, as well as during delivery. Your doctor should be able to recognize the symptoms of an abruption and be able to take steps to treat one before it harms you or the baby. If your child is born with a birth injury because of a placental abruption, you may have a case against your doctor for negligence or medical malpractice.
If you are pregnant, take steps to safeguard your child from birth injury by being on the lookout for symptoms of a placental abruption.
Placental disruption symptoms include:
• rapid contractions;
• vaginal bleeding;
• uterine tenderness;
• pain in the abdomen or lower back;
• shock, including lightheadedness, confusion, weakness, shallow breathing, nausea; and
• abnormal heart rate in the baby.
Placental abruptions are most likely to occur during the second trimester and are more likely for mothers who: suffer from blood disorders, diabetes, or high blood pressure; smoke; have had previous pregnancies; will be having multiple births; are over the age of 40; have suffered some sort of uterine trauma; have scar tissue on the uterine wall; or have used drugs or alcohol during pregnancy.
If the placenta is detached, there is unfortunately no way for your doctor to reattach it; in this case, an emergency Cesarean section may be necessary. For minor rips and tears in the placenta, however, they may be reparable and can heal over time.
How an Elyria Birth Injury Lawyer Can Help with Placental Abruption
A birth injury because of placental abruption can affect the course of a child’s entire life, hindering their ability to function both physically and mentally. On top of this, it can require lifelong medical treatment and management, costing you and your family thousands of dollars in health care bills. If the placental abruption was left untreated or your doctor failed to treat it correctly, you deserve compensation for all that you’ve had to endure.
Consider filing a claim against the at-fault parties. This could help you recover any medical costs or damages you have incurred, as well as seek compensation for the effects your family has felt because of the injury. Contact an experienced Elyria birth injury lawyer to discuss your case and learn more about your legal options.
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