The labor and delivery process is difficult on both a mother’s body and the body of the sweet infant trying to enter the world. While many people in Louisiana and elsewhere will say it is a natural process, one that a woman’s body knows how to handle without help, sometimes that really is not the case. Birth injury can often be avoided with the right help at the right time.
One woman recently shared her story of giving birth to her son. While trying for a home birth, the child became stuck and the woman eventually went to the hospital for help. She was still able to deliver naturally as she desired with some medical intervention, but she suffered severe tearing in the process. The pain resulting from the tearing lasted for months and the woman was told that having another baby vaginally could result in permanent damage. Thankfully, both mom and baby ended up being okay in the end.
When it comes to the birthing process, there are many things that have to be considered — mother’s wishes, mother’s health and baby’s health. As it currently stands, per 100,000 births in the United States there are roughly 28 maternal deaths. There are many more mothers who suffer injuries. Quite a few of these injuries — such as tearing — can be overcome in time with the natural healing process, such as in the case mentioned above, but some may result in permanent damage to mom and/or baby.
It is the injuries or deaths resulting from medical negligence that are of significant interest. If a mother suffers a birth injury due to a lack of appropriate medical treatment during a supervised birth in a medical or other birthing facility, or if the child suffers an injury because of the same, the care providers and the facility of treatment may all face financial responsibility for any resulting losses. While all birth injuries cannot be avoided, many can with the right help at the right time. Those in Louisiana who believe that they or their children have suffered birth injuries due to the lack of appropriate medical treatment may seek compensation for their losses by filing and litigating the appropriate legal claims in civil court.
Source: sheknows.com, “What Causes Birth Injuries, & How Can They Be Avoided?“, Dec. 22, 2017