Medical Negligence In Oregon: Common Problems That Put Pregnant Women And Their Babies At Risk

Having a child is a life-changing experience. The long months of pregnancy are filled with a sense of joyful anticipation and planning for the day your baby finally arrives. However, it is natural to also feel a certain amount of anxiety regarding your health and that of your infant.  

Problems can happen during pregnancy, birth, or in the aftermath that put you and your baby at risk. Unfortunately, medical negligence is often to blame. Our Oregon birth injury attorneys explain some of the most common issues pregnant women and their families are likely to face.  

How The Negligence Of Medical Providers Endangers Expectant Mothers and Infants

According to statistics from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), there are nearly two dozen maternal deaths each year. In terms of newborn infants, an estimated 120 never make it through their first month while close to 200 die within the first year. While these represent just a small fraction of the roughly 40,000 births that occur annually, it is important to be aware of the risks.

Sadly, negligence on the part of doctors, nurses, and other medical providers can make potentially life-threatening complications during pregnancy more likely to occur. Among the most common include: 

During Pregnancy

Proper neonatal care plays a major role in protecting both mother and the developing fetus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), common problems that can arise include: 

• Anemia, due to low levels of iron in the blood;
• Gestational diabetes, resulting in dangerously high blood sugar levels;
• High blood pressure (hypertension), impacting heart rates for both mother and baby;
• Hyperemesis Gravidarum, a severe and dangerous form of morning sickness;
• Infections, including socially transmitted diseases (STDs) and urinary tract infections (UTI), which can impact maternal health and the infant during delivery. 

In cases involving medical negligence, these and other pregnancy-related conditions are not properly diagnosed, monitored, or treated. 

Labor Complications

Complications during labor and delivery are among the most common causes of maternal and infant death and disability. This includes: 

• Allowing overly long labor, resulting in complications that impact both mother and infant;
• Failure to monitor heart rates, resulting in maternal or fetal distress;
• Excessive extraction methods, such as the improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors;
• Failure to provide or prepare for needed interventions, such as an emergency c-section. 

Health Complications With Newborns

Sadly, health complications during pregnancy and delivery can have major impacts on newborn infants and developing babies. Broken bones, dislocated shoulders or hips, head injuries, and chronic infections or genetic conditions can all pose potentially life-threatening risks. 

Contact Our Oregon Birth Injury Attorneys  

The birth of a child should be one of the happiest times for your family. Sadly, medical negligence is a serious problem that can put both you and your baby at risk. At the Johnston Law Firm P.C., we hold negligence medical providers accountable. To request a consultation, call (503) 546-3167 or contact our Oregon birth injury attorneys online today.