What Is Premature Birth?
When a baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy, it is considered a premature birth. Babies being born too early is one of the biggest causes of infant death in the U.S. A preterm birth occurs in 1 out of every 10 infants, according to the latest statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The development of growing babies progresses throughout pregnancy. The final months and weeks of pregnancy are needed for the brain, lungs, immune system, and skin of the infant to fully develop. Babies before the 37 weeks may face health complications. Babies born before 32 weeks have higher rates of disability and death.
Complications of Premature Birth
Early births can result in serious consequences for the child. Babies born between 23 and 26 weeks can survive, but they are at an extremely high risk for severe complications. Most of these complications will make themselves known immediately and in the days following the birth, but some side effects of premature birth – such as learning disabilities – might not appear until later.
A premature newborn is at a greater risk for:
- respiratory problems
- cerebral palsy
- difficulty eating
- digestive problems
- hearing problems
- vision problems
- bleeding in the brain
- fluid accumulation in the brain
- developmental delays
- seizures
- neurological defects
Most premature babies will live in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for days, weeks, or months. During this time, infants must be monitored carefully. These tiny babies are still developing. The bodily functions and organs that should have grown in the womb are now maturing while the baby is in an incubator that is environmentally conditioned to help the baby thrive.
Why Does Premature Birth Happen?
Premature births are most common among women carrying multiple children. Women who have had a previous preterm birth are at a higher risk as well. In these situations, doctors and nurses should be aware of early risk factors of premature birth and be prepared to provide special care before, during, and after birth to ensure a healthy delivery.
Besides pregnancies involving multiples, there are other causes of premature birth, including:
- incompetent or weak cervix
- uterus or placenta problem
- mismanaged pregnancy infection
- less than six months between pregnancies
- underweight or overweight mother
- physical injury or trauma
- smoking, drug, or alcohol use
- diabetes
- high blood pressure
- stressful life events
What Can Go Wrong After Preterm Birth?
The NICU is where a premature newborn spends his or her early weeks of life, and the facility should be staffed by physicians, specialists, and staff in every pediatric specialty, as well as experts with monitoring systems, alarm systems, respiratory equipment, resuscitation equipment, and lab services.
Doctors and nurses are tasked with the very important job of keeping premature infants alive and helping them develop properly so they can be taken off respirators, eat normally, and go home with their family as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, problems do occur in the NICU, just as they do in the delivery room during birth. Any sort of medical negligence involving premature babies can result in injury or death. Equipment failures, mismanaged equipment, incorrect diagnoses, inadequate care, and general neglect can all be considered medical negligence.
What Can You Do If a Premature Birth Injury Harmed Your Child?
If your child was born prematurely and suffered harm or irreparable damage because of negligence or malpractice, you should not have to pay for the resulting medical bills and associated costs. Beyond the financial burden, premature birth takes an incredible emotional toll on families. If your child died following a preterm birth, the devastation cannot be repaired, but you can seek compensation for your suffering and loss.
In many cases of premature birth, doctors, nurses, hospitals, and medical staff are responsible for any problems or complications that occurred. If you believe this is the case with your child’s preterm birth, call Thurswell Law today for a free consultation. We are an experienced family of medical malpractice attorneys who can give you the best chance of receiving full monetary compensation. We don’t charge any fees unless you collect. Call(248) 648-3800 today to schedule your free consultation.
