Norfolk Medical Malpractice Attorney Report : Complications in Childbirth Become More Common

It’s hard to believe in this day and age of medical advances that giving birth has become more dangerous in the United States.

But the Wall Street Journal recently reported on a new action plan by hospitals and public health officials to make delivery rooms safer following recent statistics that suggest women are more likely to experience complications such as respiratory distress, cardiac arrest and kidney failure.

The rate of complications from these conditions increased by 75 percent in the decade ended 2009, according to a recent study by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Severe complications affect about 52,000 women a year, according to the Wall Street Journal.

“A big reason is the number of pregnant women who are older, obese and have chronic conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease that put them at a higher risk,” the Wall Street Journal reported.

If you suffer a complication in childbirth that harms you or your baby, the hospital or care provider may have made a mistake. A warning sign may have been missed or a health care provider may have made a mistake.

Injuries to a mother or a baby can be extremely distressing and may lead to long term medical care needs.

Before your child is born – and at each and every stage during your labor – you are entitled to the very best care available. Doctors, nurses, and attending hospital staff all have a duty to provide a standard of care that holds you and your baby’s health as the top priority. Unfortunately, busy hospitals, inept personnel, and faulty equipment and mistakes can sometimes lead to preventable birth injures.