Minnesota Stillbirths and Deaths
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately one out of every 160 births results in a stillbirth. A stillbirth occurs when an infant dies before or during the birthing process. Sometimes, the death of a newborn can occur shortly after birth, which is not considered a stillbirth. Most stillbirths cannot be prevented and are due to natural causes.
However, some infant deaths are caused by medical negligence and this is also true when a child dies in the moments or days following a birth. If you have lost a child and think it was due to medical malpractice, a Minnesota birth injury lawyer can help you and your family obtain the justice you deserve.
Common Causes of Stillbirths
Sometimes, a child dies while still in the womb or during the birthing process and the cause is never known. Sometimes though, a complication can occur that puts the child’s life in danger. Some of the most common complications that can cause a stillbirth are as follows:
- Medical complications, such as gestational diabetes
- Birth defects
- Preterm labor
- Multiple pregnancies, such as when a woman is carrying twins or triplets
- Preeclampsia, or maternal high blood pressure
- Placental abruption
- Maternal infections, or infections in the fetus
- Umbilical cord complications
Even when medical professionals respond to these complications appropriately, it can still tragically result in a stillbirth. When healthcare professionals do not respond at all, the chances of a stillbirth occurring increase significantly. A failure to respond to complications, or not responding to them properly, is considered medical malpractice and healthcare professionals can be held liable.
Common Causes of Wrongful Death of an Infant
Severe medical negligence can sadly result in the wrongful death of an infant. The most common forms this negligence takes include:
- Asphyxia, or oxygen deprivation during the birthing process
- Traumatic birth injuries due to forceps and vacuum extractors that can fracture an infant’s skull
- Failure to order a Cesarean section in a timely manner
- Medication mistakes in the infant
- Misdiagnosis of genetic conditions, birth defects, bleeding in the brain, and hemorrhages
When an infant dies shortly after the birthing process, it is known as a neonatal death. Neonatal deaths are not common. They occur in fewer than one percent of babies in the United States. Tragically, neonatal deaths are often the result of medical negligence, but parents do not always realize this. A Minnesota birth injury lawyer can determine when a death was preventable and who to hold liable in these cases.
Our Birth Injury Lawyers in Minnesota Can Help You During this Difficult Time
Childbirth should be a joyous time but sometimes, that joy turns to tragedy. If you have lost a child before or during the birthing process, or shortly afterwards, our Minnesota birth injury lawyers can help. At Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC, our skilled attorneys can determine when negligence was to blame for the tragedy, and will help you claim compensation to offset the financial burden of the loss. Call us today or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and to obtain the sound legal advice you need.