The tragedy of birth injury is fortunately affecting fewer and fewer families. Improved medical devices and practices have reduced the number of birth injuries that occur. There are far more healthy live births that occur than births that result with some type of injury.

Clinicians now use electronic fetal monitoring and ultrasound equipment in order to be able to visualize the fetus to confirm the unborn child is healthy, moving, breathing and posturing properly. It also helps to evaluate the amniotic fluid, as well as monitor the mother’s contractions.

But things can go wrong. Human error is natural and does occur. If you’ve been the victim of negligence, you should contact a Chicago birth injury lawyer to review all your options. Any birth injury presents its financial challenges, which can be relieved through successful litigation.

If non-reassuring fetal heart tones are detected or there are indications of over stimulation of the uterus during early stages of labor, the fetal environment can suddenly become very threatening and dangerous to the health of your unborn child. Your baby will risk neurological damage, asphyxiation, and brain injury, resulting in serious handicaps that can impact the life of your child.

Cerebral palsy is an example for one type of neurological damage that has no cure. Some of the contributing causes include asphyxia, hypoxia of the brain, and birth trauma. Medical intervention is confined to the treatment and prevention of complications that can arise from labor and delivery. About 2.4 out of 1000 babies suffer from cerebral palsy. Every year, 10,000 babies are born with cerebral palsy in the United States.

Injuries to the newborn can also take place due to mechanical forces. In a difficult delivery, for example, the hospital staff may need to force deliver a baby, which can stretch the brachial plexus nerves and lead to a diagnosis of shoulder dystocia or even Erb’s palsy.

Nearly half of all birth injuries can be avoided through recognition and anticipation of the obstetric risk factors. Physicians can avoid birth injuries by responding to non-reassuring and/or indeterminate fetal heart tracings as to the time of delivery.

If your child has been the victim of birth injury, call a Chicago birth injury lawyer. Accidents happen, but successful litigation maintains the check and balances of the medical system. Plus, if you are raising a child that has a serious condition as a result of a birth injury, finances will be important to be able to raise the child well and have a happy life. Take a look at your options. You just may have a case.