Traumatic births and birth injuries can be incredibly scary. From permanent damage or birth defects to long-term conditions that will mean developmental delays or brain damage, there are few things scarier than a birth injury to the mother or child during the birthing process. If you or someone you love has experienced a birth injury, here are some things to consider.
Hiring a Birth Injury Attorney
Many people don’t realize that they have legal options after they or their child has suffered a birth injury. Whether a child has suffered a brain injury or spinal cord injury during the birth process, from forceps, or due to oxygen deprivation, there are a number of health problems that can arise after a traumatic birth. Some of these complications mean lasting physical injury and medical conditions like scoliosis or cerebral palsy that will require extensive care for the infant going forward.
If you or your infant have suffered a birth injury in Illinois, it’s a good idea to talk to a birth injury lawyer like the birth injury attorneys in Chicago who specialize in childbirth medical malpractice claims. They can work with you to help you get a favorable verdict in your case. Regardless of how severe you or your child’s injury is, birth injury attorneys have years of experience with medical error and are able to help ensure a good quality of life after a birth injury incurred during the delivery process.
Self Care After a Birth Injury
Some people make the mistake of overlooking their other medical conditions and mental health after a birth injury. Distracted by the serious condition or paralysis a baby is suffering from, many parents neglect their own health as they make lifestyle changes to accommodate their special needs child. Maybe your infant has scoliosis and you’ve asked Google ‘how does scoliosis affect the body‘ but haven’t taken that extra step of getting help for your own adult scoliosis. Now is not the time to ignore your own health because, by taking care of yourself, you’ll be in a better position to take care of your baby, too.
Whether focused on improving your heart health or simply focused on the health benefits of a good diet, it’s a smart idea to pay attention to your own overall mental and physical wellness after a birth injury. Let your birth injury attorney handle the logistics of your medical malpractice claim while you focus on yourself and the baby. Taking breaks and getting help with things like the discomfort of headaches and more will put you in a better position to deal with these challenging times.
Finding a Support System
Parents navigating a birth injury often benefit from the support of an online group after birth trauma. The best way to find one is to ask a trusted healthcare professional or do a Google search for support groups in your city. A team of other parents who’ve faced the ins and outs of a birth injury claim can be an invaluable tool. Parents of children with disabilities will understand the ups and downs of things like the logistics of taking care of a child with birth injuries. They’ll also be familiar with different types of birth injuries and will be a great network to share experiences with.
When building a support system after a birth injury, don’t forget to lean on friends and family, too. Often, friends and family want to be with you every step of the way but don’t know how to help. A solid support system is an important thing after a birth trauma. If your family hasn’t offered their help, reach out.
At the end of the day, a birth injury is serious, and you are entitled to fair compensation for any medical malpractice or doctor negligence you’ve suffered from. Contacting an experienced birth injury lawyer is a good first step in getting the compensation you need for pain and suffering and future medical bills. Most birth injury attorneys offer free consultations to go over your medical records and interactions with medical professionals to assess your potential for a successful birth injury claim. If you, someone you love, or your child have been hurt by a birth injury, reach out for help.
