The highest cause of death in newborns is premature birth. If a delivery occurs in week 26 through 36 of the pregnancy, it is classified as a premature delivery. A normal full term pregnancy is 38 weeks. There are increased dangers of delivering a baby during week 26 through 36 as the infant is not fully developed during this period; therefore, the risk of lung injury or brain injury is dramatically increased. By using steroid injections, which helps accelerate the development of the lungs and brain, some of the health risks of premature delivery can be reduced. If a baby is delivered below the 26 week mark, he or she will likely have permanent neurologic injuries, and the delivery will usually be considered non-viable, which means the baby is considered not capable of living or developing.
After an infant is delivered prematurely, the baby will be placed in the neonatal intensive care unit or NICU. Premature baby's or baby's who are ill will receive special treatment in the NICU. Because of the special care a NICU provides, mother's who are anticipating a premature delivery should research a hospital with a NICU.
The earlier an infant is delivered prematurely, the greater the danger to the baby. If the infant is delivered before the 34th week, he or she will likely require ventilation assistance. The 32nd - 34th weeks are when the lungs normally mature, so if the infant is delivered before the 32nd week, he or she will probably suffer from lack of oxygen flow to the brain, or hypoxia, because of the immature lungs. If the infant is delivered after the 34th week, he or she will likely have a low risk of brain injury or permanent brain injury. When possible, treatments may be used to help delay a premature delivery until at least after the 32nd week.
Just because an expected mother goes into preterm labor, does not mean she will have a premature baby. Also, there are situations where a doctor will purposely deliver the baby early, such as if there is a complication that will affect the mother or child in a dangerous way. If for example, the fetal heart rate monitor shows the baby's heart rate is dropping dramatically and can't be brought back to a normal level, a doctor may need to perform an emergency C-section to remove the baby before permanent brain damage occurs.
If you or a family member has experienced a premature delivery or birth injury as a result of doctor negligence or hospital negligence, you may have a case for medical malpractice. You should consult with an experienced child attorney who specializes in medical malpractice birth injuries, such as Dr. Bruce Fagel. Doctor Fagel is a leading medical malpractice attorney and a licensed medical doctor.
