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Personal Injury Lawyers - Pregnancy Related Injury

in Denver and Aurora, Colorado

When a baby is born with a defect, questions usually arises as to whether that defect was caused in utero (in the womb, during pregnancy) or during the birth process, and whether or not the pregnancy or personal injury was preventable.

Each case needs to be carefully evaluated and assessed, but here is some information to start with.

Ways a baby can be injured during pregnancy:

Tobacco

If a mother smokes throughout her pregnancy, many argue that the baby suffers ill effects from the nicotine and other substances in the mother's blood. Some outcomes can include:

• Low birth weight,
• Poor lung capacity
• Sudden Infant Death syndrome (SIDS)

Fumes in the air

If the pregnant mother works in an environment where chemicals are releasing fumes into the air she breathes all day, some say that the baby can suffer the consequences in forms of brain damage such as microcephaly (small and under-developed brain).

Careless fetal monitoring

Electronic fetal monitoring is standard practice in U.S. hospitals. The monitoring devices are very sensitive to fetal distress, but don't necessarily detect any fetal disease or under-development.

If health care providers looking after the pregnant mother fail to heed the warnings that can appear in fetal heart monitoring, the baby is potentially at risk.

Injury in a car accident

If the mother is severely injured, the baby can also be injured directly, or indirectly by means such as disruption or compromise of the umbilical cord, through which the baby receives its nourishment.

Infection in the amniotic fluid

The baby floats in the womb in the amniotic fluid, and if this becomes infected, the baby could suffer severe injury.

Radiation

Studies of the effects of radiation on an unborn baby were done after WW II ended, by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Japanese Ministry of Health. They found that some of the children suffered microcephaly and severe mental retardation.

If a woman develops or is diagnosed with uterine cancer after she has become pregnant, and undergoes radiation therapy for it, some claim that the baby can suffer mental retardation as a result.

These radiation doses are far greater than any pregnant woman would normally encounter.

Other Causes

There are numerous other causes, including medication related injuries to the unborn baby, maternal illness that is not diagnosed or which is not appropriately treated, among others.

If you wonder whether your baby was injured during your pregnancy by careless health providers, misinformation, or some type of accident, contact us at the Brake Law Firm. We'll listen to you, assess the circumstances, and determine whether you might have a good claim.

Don't delay in contacting a Denver personal injury lawyer. All medical lawsuits involve a great deal of research, and can be very time-consuming. We'll protect your interests, and those of the baby, so schedule a consultation today.

Since 1983 the Brake Law Firm has successfully served clients involved in personal injury throughout Denver, Boulder, Lakewood, and Aurora, Colorado. Other areas of service include employment law, corporate law, insurance law, individual services, and wrongful death.This website has been posted to the public for informational purposes only. No information within this site should be viewed as formal legal advise. Contact our Denver injury lawyers today for a consultation.