Birth injuries refer to physical or neurological conditions that happen during labor or delivery. While some are noticeable right away, others such as cerebral palsy or intellectual challenges, may not surface until months or even years later.
A delayed diagnosis can make treatment and care more complex, highlighting the need for parents to respond promptly and thoughtfully once an issue is identified. This blog outlines the key steps to help ensure your child receives the necessary support to enhance their quality of life.
Collect Health Records
Collecting medical records is a crucial step if you notice a delayed birth injury. These records offer a complete overview of your child’s health and the circumstances around their birth. Reach out to the hospital and any healthcare providers involved in your child’s birth to request full medical documentation. Be sure to ask for records covering prenatal care, labor and delivery details, and newborn care. Carefully review these records, noting any gaps or inconsistencies.
Organize the documents in chronological order to clearly outline the timeline of care and highlight any significant events or decisions. Keep the records stored securely, and create digital copies to ensure they’re accessible for future medical evaluations or legal purposes. Birth injuries like meconium aspiration syndrome often require extensive medical records for diagnosis and treatment, so it’s essential to have them readily available.
Consider the Impact On Your Relationship
Birth trauma can adversely affect your relationship, especially if your partner has also been impacted. Trauma can lead to confusion, emotional distance, and distress within a couple, with both partners potentially triggering each other unintentionally long after the event. In these cases, relationship counselling can be beneficial, offering guidance to help each partner understand and respond to one another with care and support, ultimately fostering recovery.
Find a Birth Injury Lawyer
A birth injury often involves managing multiple treatment plans simultaneously, which can place significant financial demands on families striving to provide their child with the necessary care and therapies for healthy development. For children affected by conditions such as cerebral palsy resulting from a birth injury, ensuring a good quality of life often means committing to life-long care.
Organizing your finances early with the guidance of a trusted physician can help ensure your child’s comfort and care long-term. Approximately 29 out of every 1000 children in the U.S. experience a birth injury, many of which may stem from negligence by a hospital or medical professional.
You don’t have to face this alone, despite what hospitals or insurance companies might suggest, you have legal options. Partnering with an experienced attorney can empower you to secure the care and support your child deserves while making their future more manageable.
Care for Yourself and Your Loved Ones
During challenging times, it’s easy to neglect your own well-being. However, prioritizing rest, nourishing meals, and physical activity is essential to staying balanced and functioning effectively. You and your partner need to maintain your strength to support your child, even though the road ahead may feel overwhelming.
Remember, it’s okay to ask for support when things become too much. There will be moments when preparing a healthy meal or running errands might feel impossible, but that doesn’t make you any less capable as a parent. Lean on the people you trust, they are likely eager to lend a hand, especially during a pivotal moment like navigating the complexities of a birth injury.
Endnote
Pursuing a birth injury claim can seem overwhelming, but with the right support and resources, parents can take meaningful steps toward healing and recovery for themselves and their child. While no compensation can truly make up for the pain you’ve endured, it can play an important role in helping you move forward.
