If your child has a birth defect that may have been the result of premature birth, contact our Detroit, Michigan area firm today.
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Bloomfield Hills MI 48304
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Premature Birth, Twins, and Birth Defects - Cases in Detroit and Throughout Michigan
Premature infants, or infants that are born a few weeks early, are at a high risk for birth defects since they are often underdeveloped and have a low birth weight. Twins, triplets, and other multiple birth children are commonly born prematurely. If you went into preterm labor and your physician did not try to prolong the pregnancy, or if unnecessary complications arose resulting in injury, you may be eligible for compensation. Our attorneys have extensive experience with premature birth and birth defect cases. Contact our attorneys, handling cases in Detroit and across Michigan, to help you obtain the best possible results for your case.
What is Premature Birth
A normal pregnancy lasts about nine months, or between 38 and 42 weeks. A premature birth occurs when an infant is born before reaching 37 weeks. Infants that are born prematurely are at a higher risk for birth defects because they are not yet fully developed. The earlier a child is born, the higher the risk.
Most premature birth infants have underdeveloped immune systems, making them prone to infection, including sepsis. It is also common for premature infants to be born with underdeveloped lungs. These infants typically have trouble breathing and may require a ventilator. However, if the infant requires a high level of oxygen through the ventilator, he or she may be at an additional risk for developing vision problems or blindness. Other complications that premature birth infants may face include an inability to control sugar and salt levels in their bloodstream, resulting in anemia. Brain bleeds may also occur and cause mild or severe brain damage. In addition to these physical challenges, studies have shown that low birth weight infants may be more likely to suffer from mental retardation or have trouble learning and experience difficulty in school.
In order to avoid these complications and the chance of a birth defect occurring, the medical staff should attempt to prolong pregnancy until the baby has made it to, or very near to, the full term, giving the child more time to develop. Sometimes, it is not possible to delay the delivery of a child. However, if the physician does not make an effort to prolong the pregnancy and the baby is born prematurely and suffers from a birth defect, the physician or medical staff may be held liable for not taking proper action. If your child has suffered a birth defect as the result of a mishandled premature birth, contact our attorneys handling cases across Michigan, from Detroit to the Upper Peninsula, for a complimentary consultation.
Causes of Premature Birth
There are several circumstances that may contribute to preterm labor, including medical conditions such as a ruptured amniotic sac, infection, weak cervix, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, uterine abnormalities, a previous premature delivery, pregnancy involving more than one fetus, substance abuse, malnutrition, or chronic diseases like high blood pressure or diabetes. Sometimes, however, the cause of premature birth is unknown. If a medical condition was discovered but not properly treated, and the infant was born prematurely as a result and suffered a birth defect, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact our attorneys, serving Detroit and all of Michigan, for a free consultation today.
Twins and Multiple Births
Those pregnant with two or more fetuses are often at a higher risk for having a premature birth. While most infants born after 24 weeks survive, infants that are born earlier than 32 weeks and weigh less than three and a half pounds are at a substantially greater risk of infection or permanent disabilities such as cerebral palsy. Even multiple birth infants that are carried closer to full term are typically smaller than single birth babies, which is likely due to the growth restriction. These low birth weight babies often have health problems and may require more care.
While there is a high risk of premature birth for twins, triplets, and other multiples, identical twins face an additional risk of developing a serious complication known as twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. This condition may occur if the blood vessels of the two fetuses are connected and one fetus gets more blood flow than the other from the shared placenta. There are treatments available for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, which include the use of amniocentesis to drain the excess fluid, or laser surgery to seal off the connection between the blood vessels. However, without prompt treatment, a birth defect may result, or in severe cases, both fetuses may die.
If a physician fails to detect and properly treat a condition such as twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, and a birth defect or fetal death results, the physician, hospital, or medical staff may be held liable.
Do I Have a Case?
At ABC Law Centers, we have extensive experience handling birth injury cases involving premature birth and complications with multiple births. If your child was born with a birth defect that resulted from premature birth or from multiple gestation, contact our Michigan attorneys, handling cases in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing and more, for a free case evaluation. You may be entitled to compensation for negligence or pediatric malpractice.