Maryland Epidural Injury Lawyer
Many pregnant women opt for an epidural while having a vaginal delivery. After all, having a baby is no easy, pain-free task. It’s like birthing a watermelon.
An epidural is a numbing agent that offers pain relief during the labor and delivery process. It can be used so that you can still move your muscles and feel sensation. A catheter is used to inject the epidural into the spine. It allows for continuous medication as needed and you’ll feel pain relief within 15 minutes. You’ll feel numb below the ribcage so you can’t feel any contractions.
While epidurals are considered one of the safest methods of pain control available, they can still cause issues. Human error by the anesthesiologist can cause epidural birth injuries. These may include too much medication in the epidural, injection of medication at the wrong site, or failure to properly monitor the patient for signs of distress.
If you or your baby were injured due to an epidural, you may be able to seek compensation from the anesthesiologist who administered the epidural, as well as any other health care professionals who played a role in causing your damages. The Maryland epidural injury lawyers at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman can assess your case and help you determine liability.
Complications Associated With Epidurals
If you or your baby experience epidural birth injuries, they may come in the form of:
- Severe headaches
- Back pain
- Fever
- Chills
- Infections
- Sudden drop in blood pressure
There are also short-term and long-term risks involved. They include:
- Hypertension
- Severe nausea
- Nerve damage
- Respiratory problems
- Spinal cord injuries
- Seizures
- Paralysis
What Women Should Know About Epidurals
The complications listed above are more likely to occur in the mothers. However, pregnant women should know about the risks that their babies could suffer as well.
Not all epidurals are dangerous. Many women have them without any effects. However, when a woman has an epidural, there is a possibility that their baby could be affected.
Babies were more likely to have respiratory distress, higher temperatures, and a higher need for oxygen. They were also more likely to suffer birth injuries and need antibiotics. Mothers who had epidurals also had lengthier labor and higher temperatures, which could harm the baby and cause infections. Because epidurals dull the pain, women cannot feel contractions, so they don’t feel the need to push. This leads to an increased need for instruments such as forceps and vacuum extractors to deliver the baby. These tools are risky and cause damage to the baby’s head, such as bruises, cephalohematomas, nerve damage, and even brain damage.
Contact Us Today
While epidurals can be great for relieving pain, they need to be administered properly. A doctor’s negligence can lead to medical issues for both the baby and mother.
Doctors need to act quickly in cases of preeclampsia and eclampsia. If your doctor was negligent, seek legal help from the epidural injury lawyers at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman. We’ll help you obtain compensation for your and your baby’s injuries. Schedule a consultation by calling (410) 567-0800 today.
