For most of human history, childbirth has been incredibly dangerous for mother and child. That’s still the case in many parts of the world, but modern medical care is so good that many Americans never consider the possibility that something might go wrong during the birth of a child. However, birth injuries still occur and can leave lifelong effects. For example, birth injury can cause conditions like cerebral palsy.
Doctors and other medical staff can take steps to minimize the risks of a birth injury that could cause cerebral palsy. When they fail to do so, they may be committing medical malpractice.
Cerebral palsy is characterized by the inadequacies affecting a baby’s brain function and body movement. Usually it is detected when a baby is not progressing physically or mentally in comparison to the rate of normal babies. In some cases, this life-long condition is unavoidable. However, sometimes the condition is a result of damage to the baby’s brain in the womb, during delivery or sometime after birth. It can also occur if the baby does not get enough oxygen on his or her way out of the womb during delivery.
No condition will affect how much a parent loves their child. However, conditions like cerebral palsy can greatly alter the course of life for an infant. They will likely need special care and attention that other children without the condition never need. This can mean visits to hospitals, specialists or other doctors to better deal with the problems that come with such a diagnosis.
A parent who learns of the news that their child suffers from a debilitating condition is likely devastated. Their world has just turned upside-down. Focusing on the injured child usually becomes the parents’ priority. Thinking about the child’s future and how to best prepare for it is a great place to start.