New York Preterm Birth

A pregnancy is considered to be term at 37-42 weeks gestation. If a baby is delivered prior to 37 weeks, that baby will be considered preterm. Preterm pregnancy can be dangerous for both the mother and the baby. There are numerous reasons that a baby may be delivered preterm. However, because preterm babies are at risk for a variety of serious complications, doctors will only deliver a preterm baby to avoid serious injury to the mother or to the baby. If your or your child was seriously hurt because your doctor failed to properly manage your post-term pregnancy, it is important that you immediately contact an experienced New York preterm birth lawyer as you may be entitled to compensation from the negligent doctor.

If the following conditions are present, it is more likely that a premature delivery will occur, or become necessary.

• History of miscarriages
• History of preterm births
• Conceiving via in vitro fertilization
• History of smoking or using illicit drugs
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Physical trauma

Because preterm babies are at such a high risk for a variety of complications, doctors must ask the right questions, appropriately assess risks, and properly monitor the mother and the baby based on these risks. If as a result of the doctor failing to properly manage a pregnancy the baby is preterm and suffers an injury, the doctor’s actions may rise to the level of medical malpractice. If you feel that your doctor did not properly monitor you and manage your pregnancy based on your preterm pregnancy risk factors, discuss your case with a New York preterm birth attorney.

Post term pregnancy presents risk for both the baby and the mother. Risks for the baby include:

• Respiratory problems. Premature babies typically have underdeveloped lungs.
• Cardiac problems
• Brain damage. Premature babies are at a greater risk of brain hemorrhages.
• Body temperature control problems. Premature babies have a difficult time regulating their body temperature. As a result, the temperature can drop leading to hypothermia.
• Gastrointestinal problems. Because premature babies are more likely to have immature gastrointestinal systems, they are at a higher risk of suffering complications such as necrotizing enterocolitis.
• Anemia. Premature babies are at risk of anemia, which is blood condition characterized by the blood not having enough red blood cells.
• Jaundice. Jaundice is a condition that is common to preterm babies. It results from the blood having an excess of bilirubin. If the bilirubin rises high enough, the result can be brain damage.
• Increased risk of infection
• Developmental problems
• Hearing loss
• Vision loss
• Cerebral palsy

While it is not always possible to predict or prevent preterm birth, in cases where there are known risk factors, there are steps that the doctors can take minimize the risk. For example, for women who have a history of preterm birth, or who have short cervixes, progesterone supplements may reduce the risk. In addition, if preterm birth is inevitable, there are steps that the doctor to take to reduce the risk of the baby having certain complications. For example, administration of steroidal agents can help the baby’s lungs mature and help prevent respiratory problems.

As a preterm birth attorney in New York will explain, if your doctor’s actions contributed to your preterm birth and your baby’s preterm birth complications, you have the right to pursue damages.

If you or your baby sustained a serious injury due to complications associated with preterm birth, and you believe that your doctor was at fault, do not hesitate to immediately contact an experienced preterm birth attorney serving New York. It is often difficult to determine whether or not the preterm birth was caused by medical negligence. Thus, it is critical that an attorney with the resources and knowledge to review your medical records is on your team. The staff at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates has years of experience winning substantial settlements for victims injured due to mistakes made by medical professionals. Contact us a shoulder dystocia attorney at our New York office at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent clients in the following locations: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.