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Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorneys > Chicago Fetal Macrosomia Attorney

Chicago Fetal Macrosomia Attorney

Fetal macrosomia, or a situation in which the fetus is especially large, can be dangerous and can result in birth injuries. A regular vaginal delivery may be difficult or impossible, and it is critical for doctors to properly identify the weight of a fetus in order to take appropriate precautions to avoid injuries to the newborn and to the mother. When a doctor inaccurately measures fetal weight before labor and delivery, the newborn can suffer physical trauma during childbirth and can become stuck. In most cases, a doctor that accurately diagnoses fetal macrosomia will schedule a cesarean section (C-section) in order to avoid any injury risks to the baby or to the mother.

If your baby was misdiagnosed and injured during labor and delivery as a result of fetal macrosomia, or if you suffered injuries while giving birth, you should learn more about filing a birth injury lawsuit. One of our Chicago fetal macrosomia attorneys can help.

Learning More ABout Fetal Macrosomia in Chicago

What is fetal macrosomia? According to the Mayo Clinic, fetal macrosomia is the medical term that is “used to describe a newborn who’s much larger than average,” and the term is typically applied to babies that weigh over 8 pounds and 13 ounces, or more than 4,000 grams. Statistics suggest that only about 9 percent of babies fall into this category. Particularly large babies that weigh more than 9 pounds and 15 ounces (or more than 4,500 grams) can be at particular risk of injury and can cause serious injuries to the mother during a vaginal delivery if fetal macrosomia is not properly diagnosed.

Indications of Fetal Macrosomia in Chicago Pregnancies

Doctors have a duty to properly diagnose fetal macrosomia, which they can do in a number of different ways. Most often, fetal macrosomia will be diagnosed based on the levels of amniotic fluid, which can be determined through an ultrasound, or a fundal height measurement, which is a term that refers to the number of centimeters between the pelvic bone and the uterus. How do doctors know to check for these signs and symptoms?

According to the Mayo Clinic, healthcare providers should be assessing the levels of amniotic fluid during an ultrasound. Further, when a mother visits an ob-gyn for prenatal visits, a doctor should be measuring the fundal height. There are various causes and risk factors for fetal macrosomia, including maternal obesity or diabetes, previous pregnancies, being overdue during pregnancy, pregnancy at an older age (over the age of 35), and having a male baby.

Common Injuries Resulting from Misdiagnosed or Mishandled Fetal Macrosomia

Undiagnosed fetal macrosomia, or improperly managed fetal macrosomia can result in serious injuries to the mother and to the baby. Common birth injuries to the baby may include but are not limited to:

  • Shoulder dystocia;
  • Cerebral palsy;
  • Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy; and
  • Brain injuries due to use of forceps.

Contact Our Birth Injury Attorneys in Chicago

Do you need assistance with a fetal macrosomia claim? One of our Chicago birth injury attorneys can assist you. Contact Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC today to get started on your claim.

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