Can Inducing Labor Help Prevent Birth Injuries?

The merits of an induced birth garner some controversy among medical professionals, and the issue may be getting more complex. While it is well known that an induced birth too early in the development of the child may result in negative consequences, a late-term induced birth may not give rise to the same level of risk. In fact, according to a recent news article, some physicians have started to induce birth in situations where they believe that the size of the child may result in difficulties during birth.

Avoiding Shoulder Dystocia
Shoulder dystocia is a condition that occurs when a baby’s head delivers, but one or both of the child’s shoulders get stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone, preventing the rest of the infant from emerging. Babies suffering from shoulder dystocia are at an increased risk for fractures, nerve damage in the spine, and suffocation during delivery.

A group of European researchers recently tested the theory that induction may be a safer route for large babies. The study chose 800 women whose children were in the 95th percentile for size. The group was split in two. Half of the expecting mothers were to be induced, and the other half were allowed to give birth naturally. The results of the study showed that shoulder dystocia occurred in 2% of the induced births but 6% of the non-induced births. The study concluded that for every 25 induced births, one case of shoulder dystocia would be prevented.

Evolving Standards of Medical Care and Birth Injury Cases
When a child is injured due to a delivering physician’s negligence, that physician may be held liable in a birth injury lawsuit. Doctors are held to a high duty to provide a certain level of medical care to all their patients. This includes researching the merits of new procedures and techniques and, when appropriate, utilizing them. A doctor’s failure to pursue an available avenue of treatment can be considered medical malpractice, depending on the circumstances.

Labor induction for larger babies is not yet the norm among doctors and hospitals in the United States. However, this article seems to indicate that there is some merit in the idea. Regardless, this goes to show that the medical field is dynamic, and what was considered a questionable tactic yesterday may be tomorrow’s standard of care.

Have You Given Birth to a Child Who Suffered from a Preventable Birth Injury?

If you have recently given birth to a child who suffered from some kind of a preventable birth injury, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. However, keep in mind that doctors and hospitals are insured against these kinds of lawsuits, and their insurance companies will do everything they can to defend against even the most legitimate case. To ensure that you are treated fairly, contact a dedicated birth injury attorney to discuss your case. Call 410-998-3600 today to set up a free initial consultation with a skilled advocate knowledgeable in the areas of medical malpractice and birth injuries.