Women in labor are often eager to meet their new babies. They head to the hospital to limit their risk during labor and delivery. They expect medical professionals to ensure their safety and facilitate a healthy birth. Unfortunately, health care professionals sometimes make major mistakes on the job. They fail to monitor the unborn fetus. They offer inappropriate birth interventions. They make mistakes while performing procedures that cause physical trauma to the child or the mother.
The birth injuries that they cause can have lasting consequences for the child and their parents. Families may need to consider those long-term consequences as they evaluate how to respond to a recent birth injury. What impacts do birth injuries usually have on a family?
Mental health consequences
Birth injuries frequently have a profound negative impact on the mental health of the parent involved. Mothers who experience birth trauma with notable consequences have an increased risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and may also struggle to bond with their children.
The long-term mental health impact of a birth injury can also be quite significant. Dealing with medical challenges in the immediate family can lead to depression and anxiety symptoms. Parents forced to leave or deprioritize their careers to provide medical support for a child may struggle with their new role.
The strain of the expenses and demands associated with a birth injury can also damage the relationship between the parents. Other children in the family may grow to resent the child born with the birth injury even though it is not their fault. They may feel rejected, neglected or stressed out by the situation and may need space to process their feelings.
Financial consequences
There are many financial implications when someone experiences birth trauma. Obviously, the delivery process and aftercare can lead to more significant medical expenses when things go wrong. Additionally, the new mother may require more time away from work or may not be able to return to their career as the family may have previously planned. The combination of increased medical expenses and reduced household income can cause intense stress.
Particularly in scenarios where the birth injury has permanent consequences, such as when a child develops cerebral palsy, a birth injury could trigger major expenses as the family has to modify their living spaces and vehicles. The lifetime medical care costs for the child with the birth injury can be significant. People also have to consider the long-term financial impact of parents leaving or deprioritizing their careers to care for a child.
Families may need help estimating the financial impact of a birth injury, and that’s okay. They may be able to pursue a medical malpractice lawsuit that leads to compensation for lost wages, increased medical expenses and even mental health treatment. Reviewing the circumstances surrounding a recent birth injury with a skilled legal team can help parents reduce the harm caused by likely preventable medical mistakes.