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Kentucky Labor & Delivery Negligence Lawyers
More than 50 years of combined advocacy for newborns and mothers who are the victims of medical malpractice
Pregnant women regularly obtain medical care from their OB/GYNs, midwives, and hospital staff. These healthcare providers have a duty to understand the risks for each expectant mother and child during labor and during the delivery of the child into the world. At Crandall & Pera Law, we work with gynecologists, obstetricians, and other medical experts to show why your maternal and birth injuries were preventable and who should be held responsible. Our Kentucky labor and delivery negligence lawyers demand full compensation for all the medical bills, pain and suffering, and other financial and personal damages that mothers and newborns deserve. Call us now to assert your rights and to protect yourself and your child.
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Table of Contents
- What is labor and delivery negligence?
- What are the causes of labor and delivery negligence in Kentucky?
- What injuries do labor and delivery negligence cause in Kentucky?
- How much is a mother’s or child’s labor or delivery negligence claim worth in Kentucky?
- Do you have a Kentucky labor and delivery negligence lawyer near me?
What is labor and delivery negligence?
Labor has several stages. The early stage of the first stage of labor occurs when an expectant mother starts to feel ongoing contractions. As the contractions become stronger and more frequent, the cervix begins to open (the dilation process). When the contractions become shorter and softer, the cervix thins (the effacement process), which allows the baby to move into the birth canal.
Active labor begins when the cervix opens from 6 cm to 10 cm. Pregnant women who haven’t arrived at their labor and delivery facility should do so immediately. Active labor generally lasts four to eight hours. “The last part of active labor can be particularly intense and painful. Contractions come close together and can last 60 to 90 seconds. You may have pressure in your lower back and rectum.”
The delivery/birth of your baby is also known as the second stage of labor. Much of this stage involves the mother pushing so her baby can exit the birth canal. Doctors, during this stage, need to ensure that the baby is in the proper position and is working its way through the birth canal. Normally, the head comes first, then the shoulders, and then the rest of the body. The delivery doctor will then clamp and cut the umbilical cord.
Waiting to clamp and cut the umbilical cord after delivery increases the flow of nutrient-rich blood from the cord and the placenta to the baby. This raises the baby's iron stores and lowers the risk of anemia. That helps with healthy development and growth.
The third stage of labor involves delivering the placenta – moving the placenta into the birth canal. If “any pieces of the placenta are left in the uterus, they must be removed to prevent bleeding and infection.” Following the delivery of the placenta, the uterus will continue contracting as it works back to its normal size. “Your healthcare professional checks to see whether you need repair of any tears in your vaginal area. If you didn't have an epidural, you'll receive an injection of local anesthetic in the area to be repaired.”
What are the causes of labor and delivery negligence in Kentucky?
Labor and delivery negligence is considered medical malpractice if your healthcare providers fail to provide competent medical care (care that complies with standard medical practice for obstetricians and birth professionals in Kentucky) and that improper care harms the mother or child.
At Crandall & Pera Law, we hold gynecologists, obstetricians, midwives, hospitals, and anesthesiologists accountable for all types of labor and delivery negligence, including the following:
- Failing to obtain an informed consent – the mother’s approval after explaining the benefits and risks of medications and medical procedures
- Failing to understand the risks of medications and procedures – and how to respond quickly and competently when those risks appear
- Failing to provide competent medical care during any phase or failing to monitor the health of the mother and child during labor and delivery
- Improper use of forceps
- Improper use of vacuum extractors
- Improper administration of antibiotics, Pitocin, and other drugs
- Failing to understand when a C-section is necessary and/or untimely delaying the C-section
- Failing to perform a vaginal or C-section delivery according to competent medical standards
- Failing to sterilize all medical equipment and the delivery room
- Failing to prepare for emergencies
- Not providing the correct amount of anesthesia
- Using excessive force during the delivery
- Conducting the delivery while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
We work with our network of medical professionals to show that your healthcare providers failed to provide competent medical care during labor or delivery.
What injuries do labor and delivery negligence cause in Kentucky?
Our Kentucky labor and delivery negligence lawyers handle all types of serious injuries due to medical malpractice. Some of the serious or catastrophic injuries Crandall & Pera Law handles include the following:
- Cerebral palsy
- Brachial plexus injuries, including Erb’s palsy and Klumpke’s palsy
- Insufficient oxygen
- Skull fractures
- Infections
- Sepsis
- Maternal hemorrhaging
- Pre-eclampsia
- Placenta abruption
- Hemorrhaging – bleeding
- Uterine rupture
- Seizure disorders
- Failure to recognize and treat jaundice
- Postpartum negligence
- Stillbirth
- Death of a mother
Labor and delivery injuries can cause long-term or permanent physical and emotional injuries to both the mother and child. Newborns may also suffer cognitive and developmental delays.
How much is a mother’s or child’s labor or delivery negligence worth in Kentucky?
At Crandall & Pera Law, our birth injury lawyers demand that the healthcare providers responsible for the harm to mothers and children during the labor and delivery stages pay for all current and future damages. These damages include:
- All medical expenses for the mother and child
- The physical pain and suffering of mother and child
- The inability of either the mother or child to function or enjoy life’s pleasures
- The mother’s loss of income
- The expenses, including time off from work to care for a newborn with a birth injury
Do you have a Kentucky labor and delivery negligence lawyer near me?
Yes. Our birth injury lawyers meet clients at our Lexington, Kentucky, office located at 201 E Main St., Suite 530. We also meet parents and children away from the office when necessary. Phone and online video conversations are also an option.
We can explain your rights and fight for all the compensation you deserve.
Speak with our accomplished Kentucky maternal and birth injury lawyers now
Labor and delivery should be memorable for the ultimate joy of bringing a healthy baby into the world and a healthy mother to love and care for that baby. They should not be memorable for the hurt and pain they cause to either the mother or newborn or both. At Crandall & Pera Law, we have an impressive record of verdicts and settlements in medical malpractice claims. We’re ready to hold your healthcare professionals accountable now. Please call us or use our contact form to schedule a free consultation. Our Kentucky labor and delivery negligence lawyers handle birth injury cases on a contingency fee basis.