Baltimore Umbilical Cord Birth Injury Lawyer
The umbilical cord is the baby’s connection to the placenta during pregnancy. The umbilical cord is crucial during this time, as it ensures the baby receives nutrient-rich blood that is necessary to develop and grow.
So when the umbilical cord is damaged in any way, it can cause lifelong complications for the baby and even death.
Failure to diagnose, monitor, and take appropriate action to prevent umbilical cord birth injuries can lead to long-term complications. It is possible that the injury could be caused by multiple parties, including the doctor, nurse, or hospital. If so, you may have a viable lawsuit. Contact a Baltimore umbilical cord birth injury lawyer from Furman | Honick Law to schedule a consultation and learn more about your legal options.
Common Umbilical Cord Problems
An umbilical cord could have any of these problems:
- Umbilical cord compression. Compression occurs when pressure stops blood from flowing through the umbilical cord.
- Umbilical cord infection. An infection can spread from the umbilical cord throughout the placenta and amniotic fluid, causing cerebral palsy and sepsis.
- Nuchal cords. A nuchal cord is when an umbilical cord becomes wrapped once or more times around the baby’s neck. This is very common, occurring in 35% of pregnancies.
- True knots. This occurs when the umbilical cord gets twisted like a rope into a knot.
- Umbilical cord prolapse. A prolapse means that the umbilical cord has moved down the birth canal before or alongside the baby. This is dangerous and can cause a lack of oxygen.
- Short umbilical cords. Sometimes the umbilical cord is too short, causing stretches or tears.
Is it Negligence?
In most cases, umbilical cord issues are not preventable. However, it can be negligence if a doctor or nurse fails to identify or address the issue. A lack of treatment can cause various issues — some even life-threatening.
To prevent umbilical cord birth injuries during childbirth, doctors should closely monitor the pregnancy, especially when labor and delivery are imminent. Around the middle of the pregnancy, an in-depth ultrasound should be performed to closely examine the umbilical cord. Combined with routine monitoring, the doctor should be able to identify any problems with the cord or its attachment to the placenta and the baby.
During an ultrasound exam, medical providers should be checking for umbilical cord abnormalities such as:
- Abnormal attachment
- Abnormal composition
- Knotting or coiling
- Masses, cysts, or clots in the cord
- Thrombosis
Contact Furman | Honick Law Today
Umbilical cord issues happen a lot and many lead to serious complications. However, not all cases are due to negligence. Proving negligence in these cases is difficult, so contact a lawyer to understand your legal rights.
The team from Furman | Honick Law can assess your case and determine whether or not medical malpractice is at play. To schedule a free consultation with an experienced Baltimore umbilical cord birth injury lawyer, fill out the online form or call (410) 844-6000.