Risk factors for birth trauma

Some San Diego residents wait years before they have children-the last nine months simply signifying the end of the rainbow with the pot of gold in the form of the lovely infant they await. Mothers often go to their doctors two three times a month in the last month, ensuring everything is going smoothly and to ease their anxiety. They trust their doctors and hospitals to give them the best care possible. So when a birth injury results due to a negligent doctor, families may be overwhelmed as to what their response should be.

Though birth injuries and resulting deaths have decreased significantly over the years, with an average of six to eight injuries per 1,000 live births, for the families affected by those injuries, the statistics mean nothing. When the injuries result from mechanical forces, such as compression or traction, during the birthing process, this can be categorized as birth trauma. Generally, larger babies are associated with birth trauma.

Though many birth traumas are self-limiting, they can be avoided by recognition. In addition to this, anticipating certain obstetric risk factors can also prevent them. Some of the risk factors for birth trauma include instrumental deliveries, such as those involving forceps or vacuums, and abnormal or excess traction during deliveries.

At the time of delivery, expecting parents leave everything in the hands of the medical professionals dealing with them, hoping they are making the right decisions and using the appropriate instruments with the appropriate force. When they do not, and breach the trust with their patients, it may be possible to get compensation for the injuries suffered during birth trauma.