For many, there is no more joyful moment in life than the birth of a child. But if your child sustained a birth injury, your joy may be clouded by feelings of doubt, and maybe even regret. If you find yourself in this situation, know that it’s extremely unlikely that you did anything to cause your child’s birth injury. More often, birth injuries are the result of the negligence of a medical professional. Still, if you’re an expecting parent, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of your child sustaining a birth injury. Here are some tips for parents to prevent birth injuries.
If you’re an expecting parent, keep in mind these steps you can take to reduce the risk of your child sustaining a birth injury.
Find the Right Obstetrician
Even if you do your best to prevent birth injuries, much of the burden falls on medical professionals. But even this is not completely out of your hands. For the safety of yourself and your child, you should do your best to find the right obstetrician for you.
This is no easy feat, but it’s far easier to research obstetricians in the internet age than it has ever been before. It’s important not only to select an obstetrician who your insurance covers and who you can communicate well with, but also one with the right credentials and experience. Do your best to pick one with no track record of birth injuries. You may be able to find their disciplinary record online.
Ask Your Doctor About Food, Drink, and Medications
One of the many difficult aspects of pregnancy is how it restricts what you can eat and drink. Some dietary options are perfectly healthy when you aren’t pregnant, but have the capacity to cause harm to a gestating baby. Everyone knows to avoid smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, and caffeine while pregnant. But here are a few more foods that you should steer clear of:
- Raw/undercooked meat (including fish)
- High-mercury fish (e.g. tuna, marlin, and swordfish)
- Processed meats such as hot dogs, sausage, and deli meats
- Raw sprouts that possibly contain salmonella
If you’re unsure if a novel food or drink is safe to consume while pregnant, it’s best to ask your doctor before taking any risks. The same goes for medication.
Communicate With Your Doctor
One of the primary ways doctors can reduce the risk of birth injury is by providing proper prenatal care. For instance, they may be able to detect any issues with the position of the umbilical cord that can cause birth asphyxia. This burden falls on the doctor, but pregnant mothers can assist with this too by communicating properly for them.
In particular, you should notify your obstetrician immediately if you notice yourself feeling sick or anything else abnormal. It is especially crucial to keep careful track of your baby’s activity in the last couple months of your pregnancy. “Kick counts” are a great way to do exactly that. If you notice a drop-off in the expected healthy activity, notify your doctor right away.
The more open and communicative you are with your doctor, the better.
Contact The Snyder Law Group Today
The Snyder Law Group, LLC, proudly represents clients throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C. Our experienced Baltimore attorneys understand the frustration that comes with an insurance company, medical professional, or other party that refuses to accept liability for negligent or reckless behavior. You can take heart in knowing there are talented and experienced lawyers ready to work for you. We are experienced in handling personal injury claims of medical malpractice or injury resulting from serious car and truck accidents, and have secured hundreds of millions in verdicts settlements. Please visit our website, www.410thefirm.com, for more information and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.