Nuchal Cord Malpractice

The umbilical cord is critical to a baby’s survival inside the womb. It connects a baby to the placenta, providing water, nutrients, and oxygen to them until they take their first breath after being born. It’s important that the umbilical cord is functioning properly at all times. Otherwise, birth complications could occur.

Umbilical cord complications are rare, but they do happen. Nuchal cord is one of these conditions, and it means that the cord is tightly wrapped and twisted around a baby’s neck. It may be wrapped around in one coil or it could be wrapped around the neck many times and form a knot. With the former, this could be treated prior to the baby being born or during labor. With the latter, doctors will need to closely monitor the child and administer an emergency C-section if it’s serious. A knot will show up in the umbilical cord in around one in every 100 pregnancies.

Nuchal cord can decrease the amount of oxygen and blood flow a baby is getting, and a baby could end up experiencing moderate to severe birth injuries. When nuchal cord malpractice occurs, it means that a baby was experiencing this condition, the doctor or nurses failed to act at an appropriate time or act at all, or they took the wrong steps to administer treatment. Perhaps they didn’t disclose the risks of nuchal cord or treatment to the mother. By figuring out if malpractice was a factor in a baby’s birth injury, parents can determine whether or not they should sue for damages.

Symptoms of Birth Injuries Caused By Nuchal Cord Malpractice

A baby may be at risk of a nuchal cord birth injury if any of the following factors apply:

• The baby is large
• There are twins
• There is excessive amniotic fluid
• The baby is in the breech position

A number of symptoms and conditions could show up in a baby with a nuchal cord injury. They include:

• Seizures
• Organ failure
• Abnormalities in the heart
• Meconium aspiration syndrome
• Developmental delays
• Cerebral palsy
• High fever
• Motor disorders
• Bluish skin color
• Intellectual disorders
• Limpness
• Low blood pressure

The presence of nuchal cord could also result in infant death. That’s why it’s critical that a doctor properly monitor a baby to ensure the umbilical cord is not wrapped around the neck. And if this does occur and a baby ends up being injured, the doctor needs to take the correct actions in order to treat them.

Treatment for Birth Injuries Caused By Nuchal Cord Malpractice

The treatment for injuries caused by nuchal cord malpractice are going to differ based on what injuries a baby is experiencing. If your baby has a high fever, treatment could include giving a baby fluids, treating them with medication that will reduce the fever, and putting a baby in a cooler place so that their body temperature will drop.

If a baby has meconium aspiration syndrome, then treatment could include using a mask and a bag to help a baby breathe, utilizing a radiant warmer so that the baby has a stable body temperature, and bringing in a ventilator for breathing as well.

When a baby has brain damage resulting in developmental delays, they may need ongoing treatment like physical therapy to help with gross motor skills, occupational therapy for fine motor skills and sensory processing, and behavioral and speech and language therapy.

If your baby is exhibiting symptoms, then a doctor will be able to diagnose the condition and start your baby on a treatment plan.

How Do I Know if Birth Injuries Were Caused By Nuchal Cord Malpractice?

The only way to find out if nuchal cord malpractice caused birth injuries is to call up a birth injury lawyer. They will listen to what happened, look at the evidence you provide them including witness statements, medical records, and photographs of your baby’s injuries, and then make a determination as to whether or not malpractice was a factor in your baby’s injuries.

You will need professional help from a birth injury lawyer because medical malpractice is notoriously difficult to prove. The bar is set so high so that people won’t sue medical professionals all the time. Then, nobody would want to go into this field, and society would suffer as a whole. Not only do you need the proper evidence, but you also need an experienced lawyer who was worked on these type of cases before and will fight hard to negotiate the proper settlement for you.

How Much Will I Receive From a Nuchal Cord Malpractice Settlement?

If you are able to prove that nuchal cord malpractice did occur, then you may receive compensation for damages such as:

• Medical bills
• Loss of companionship and enjoyment of life
• Pain and suffering
• Future medical care
• Loss of earning capacity

Your non-economic damages could include pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life, while your economic damages could include your medical bills and future medical care if your baby needs it.

When you call up a lawyer, they won’t able to tell you how much your final settlement will be, but they could estimate your damages. And keep in mind that they’ll work hard to get you the highest settlement possible so you don’t have to worry.

Settlement Offers in a Nuchal Cord Birth Injury Case

The way the legal process works is once you get in touch with a birth injury lawyer, they will assemble any evidence you provide them as well as help you retrieve more if necessary. For example, you may not have had time to gather all your medical records, so they will call your hospital and healthcare providers and get the records they need for your case.

Then, they will determine your damages and reach out to the defendant, who is the doctor, nurse, or another healthcare professional responsible for the birth injury. From this point, they’ll tell the defendant the proposed settlement. The defendant may settle with you right away, offer you a lower settlement, or not want to settle at all.

Usually, as long as you have a valid case, the defendant will choose to settle instead of going to court. If they go to court, they risk having to pay you a higher settlement and damaging their reputation in the medical field. That could cost them a lot more in the long run, so they will weigh the risks and just settle.

Why Contact a Birth Injury Lawyer?

A birth injury lawyer will take care of your nuchal cord malpractice lawsuit so you don’t have to stress out. They will make sure justice is served and attempt to get you the compensation you need and deserve. Then, you can focus on taking care of your baby, your family, and yourself at this time when you feel most vulnerable, and gain some peace of mind.

Nuchal Cord Birth Injury Attorneys

Malpractice happens unfortunately, but you can fight back. If you believe that nuchal cord malpractice is to blame for your baby’s birth injury, then get in touch with birth injury attorneys Gilman & Bedigian today. We’ll work hard on your behalf.

Contact Gilman & Bedigian 24/7 for a free consultation at (800) 529-6162.