Chicago Failure to Treat Pre-Term Labor Attorney
Preterm labor can result in extremely serious birth injuries in Chicago as a result of premature birth injuries, and obstetricians and other health care providers have a duty to diagnose and treat preterm labor. If your baby was born prematurely after you experienced preterm labor, you should have a Chicago failure to treat preterm labor attorney evaluate your case to discuss your eligibility for filing a birth injury lawsuit. Birth injury claims are a type of medical malpractice lawsuit, and you may be able to hold your doctor accountable for negligence.
What is Preterm Labor in Chicago?
According to the Mayo Clinic, preterm labor happens when a pregnant mother is having regular contractions after week 20 but before a full-term pregnancy at week 37. When a mother goes into preterm labor, a premature birth can occur, and the baby can have injuries as a result of prematurity. There are different stages of preterm labor, including the following:
- Late preterm labor, which occurs when a baby is born between 34-36 weeks of pregnancy;
- Moderate preterm labor, which occurs when a baby is born between 32-34 weeks of pregnancy;
- Very preterm labor, which occurs when a baby is born between 26-32 weeks of pregnancy; and
- Extremely preterm labor, which occurs when a baby is born at 25 weeks of pregnancy or earlier.
The more premature a baby is, the more likely the risk of serious complications. It is important to know that the Mayo Clinic reports that most premature births resulting from preterm labor “occur in the late preterm stage,” although babies can be born prematurely in any of the above stages of preterm labor. Given that preterm labor can result in serious birth injuries, doctors have a duty to treat preterm labor and to take steps to help the mother reach full term.
Signs of Preterm Labor in Chicago
Your obstetrician should be trained to identify signs of preterm labor and premature birth, and your doctor should provide appropriate treatment. To be clear, when a health care provider fails to identify and/or treat preterm labor, that health care provider may be liable for resulting birth injuries from a premature birth. Common signs and symptoms of preterm labor, according to the Mayo Clinic, include the following:
- Regular contractions before reaching 37 weeks;
- Constant and dull lower backache;
- Feeling of pelvic or abdominal pressure;
- Abdominal cramps;
- Vaginal spotting; or
- Change in vaginal discharge to a bloody discharge or a watery and mucus-like discharge.
Contact a Chicago Preterm Labor Birth Injury Lawyer
If you had a preterm labor and your doctor failed to diagnose and treat you, it may be possible to file a birth injury claim if your baby has birth injuries as a result of a premature birth. Do not hesitate to get in touch with an experienced Chicago failure to treat preterm labor lawyer for more information. Contact Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC to find out more about how we can assist you.