Was your baby born with a spinal birth defect?
Dealing with a newborn is an exciting adventure but it can be tiring too. Babies call for a lot of attention when they first enter our world. When a child is born with an illness which causes him or her discomfort, taking care of them is even more trying. When a child is born with a spinal defect, the result is compounded.
What is spina bifida?
When bones do not grow properly in an unborn baby’s vertebrae, a condition called spina bifida develops. Spina bifida is a neural tube defect, and it is one of the most well-known birth disorders. This irregularity can begin when a woman is only two weeks along in her pregnancy. About one out of every thousand babies is born with this type of spinal birth defect.
Reasons for Spina Bifida Spinal Birth Defects
Spinal disorders can occur for no apparent reason, but experts believe that if women take extra folic acid before conception and during early pregnancy, it might help to prevent this birth defect. Since 1998, supplements high in folic acid have been routinely prescribed to pregnant women.
A defect at birth, like a spine irregularity, may be caused because of certain medications the mother took while carrying her unborn baby. Drugs to treat acne or epilepsy are some common medications that have caused this abnormality in a newborn’s spine.
Other possible causes for this disorder include the mother being overweight or having diabetes.
Goldberg & Osborne knows about spinal birth defects and medical negligence.
Detecting a spinal birth defect
Before an infant is born, doctors can run a test called the maternal serum triple test. The doctor takes a sample of blood from the pregnant woman, which allows the physician to screen for irregularities with the baby or the neural tube. If the maternal serum test reveals signs of a spine defect, doctors then run other tests, like ultrasounds and amniocentesis. A sonogram may not reveal a more serious case of spina bifida or other spinal abnormalities, but amniocentesis is more advanced and can disclose even mild problems.
Are there any signs of a spinal birth defect that a mom can see?
Since there are three different types of spina bifida, symptoms may vary with each one With the spina bifida occulta abnormality, an abnormal tuft of hair, a collection of fat, a small dimple, or a birthmark, may be noticed on the baby’s skin above the spinal defect . With spina bifida meningocele and myelomeningocele, the more serious forms, a sac may protrude from the spinal cord on the baby’s back, or a portion of spinal cord tissue may be exposed. Other symptoms include bowel and bladder problems (such as constipation or incontinence), numbness below the area of the defect, and inability to move the lower legs (paralysis).
How do I know my baby has a spinal birth defect due to medical negligence?
Did your doctor run certain tests to rule out a spinal birth defect while you were pregnant, or did you take specific drugs that you thought would not harm your unborn baby? If your baby was born with this disorder, and you feel like your physician did not provide adequate care for you or your baby, you may have a claim.
Goldberg & Osborne has assisted clients with cases involving birth defects and medical malpractice. If you believe you have a claim for your child’s birth injuries, please contact us at (800) 318-6316 or fill out our short online form and submit it. We will contact you shortly to assess and confirm your claim.
Time is of the essence with cases involving birth defects related to medical negligence or unsafe medications. Every state establishes a deadline to file claims. Contact our law firm today, before time runs out.
