Maryland Failure to Treat Preterm Labor Lawyer
Ideally, a woman will be pregnant for 39-40 weeks. By this time, your baby has fully developed and can survive outside of the womb.
Unfortunately, not all pregnancies last this long. Sometimes a woman goes into preterm labor. The closer the pregnancy is to 40 weeks, the better the chances for the baby. The earlier the baby is born, the higher the risk of complications. In many cases, these complications result in death.
Did your doctor fail to treat your preterm labor? If so, the experienced Maryland preterm labor lawyer at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman can assess your case and determine your legal rights.
Causes of Preterm Labor
While any woman can go into preterm labor for various reasons, there are some common factors that can increase the risk. They include the following:
- Prior premature birth
- Multiple babies in the womb (twins, triplets, etc.)
- Abnormalities in the cervix
- Uterine problems
- Genital infections
- An infection in the amniotic fluid
- Untreated urinary tract infections
- Gestational diabetes
- Preeclampsia
- Placenta previa or placental abruption
- Sexually transmitted disease
- Smoking
- Long-term illness
- Stress
- Drug use
- Unexplained vaginal bleeding
- Clotting disorder
Signs of Preterm Labor
Some of the potential signs of preterm labor include the following:
- Abdominal cramps or cramping that feels like gas
- Uterine contractions that are less than 10 minutes apart
- Dull backache
- Excessive vaginal discharge
- Vaginal bleeding
- Pelvic or vaginal pressure
- Reduced movement of the baby
How to Check for Preterm Labor
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, your doctor will check for preterm labor by doing one or more of the following:
- Cervical exam. Your doctor will look for any changes to the cervix.
- Transvaginal ultrasound exam. A device is placed inside the vagina to measure the length of your cervix.
- Testing for amniotic fluid. This determines if the sac around the baby has broken.
What Must a Doctor Do?
When a woman is experiencing preterm labor, doctors must make reasonable efforts to provide care for both the babies and mothers. When they fail to do so, it can lead to serious complications for the mother and baby. In some cases, it can even lead to death.
Some actions that doctors should take include:
- Ordering bed rest when a woman is at risk of preterm labor
- Observing the signs of preterm labor
- Properly treating cervical issues
- Prescribing medications to slow or stop preterm labor
- Delivering the baby if treatment is not working or the baby or mother is in danger
Contact Us Today
When a woman goes into preterm labor, she should seek immediate medical help so her doctor can help save the baby. If the doctor fails to treat preterm labor and allows the baby to suffer serious injuries or die, he or she could be held liable.
If your preterm labor was not managed properly and led to serious complications, you may have legal options. Contact the experienced personal injury lawyers at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman for legal advice. Call our Maryland office at 410-998-3600 for a free consultation.
