Chicago NICU Attorney
Getting ready to have a baby is an exciting time, and new parents should not have to worry that a healthcare provider’s negligence will result in their newborn’s injury. Yet in some cases, a newborn must be treated or cared for in a NICU due to a mistake during childbirth. Under such circumstances, it may be possible to file a birth injury claim against one or more liable healthcare providers. A Chicago NICU attorney at our firm can help.
What is a NICU in Chicago?
A neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a “special area of the hospital,” according to Stanford Children’s Health, for “newborn babies who need intensive medical care.” As Stanford Children’s Health explains, babies are placed in NICUs because these areas of a hospital have “advanced technology and trained healthcare professionals who give special care for the tiniest patients.” There are many different reasons that a newborn may be placed in a NICU, including but not limited to the following:
- Preterm newborns, especially those born before 37 weeks of pregnancy;
- Babies born with a particularly low birth weight, especially of less than 5.5 pounds; and
- Newborns with a health condition that requires special care from doctors and nurses specifically trained to provide care and treatment for NICU patients, such as infections, breathing difficulties, heart issues, and birth defects.
While it is not always possible to predict whether a pregnancy may result in giving birth to a baby that requires care in a NICU, according to Stanford Children’s Health, there are certain high-risk factors during pregnancy and delivery that can make it more likely that the newborn will need to be in a NICU for some period of time. Some of those factors include but are not limited to the following:
- Especially young during pregnancy or pregnancy over 40;
- Diabetes in the mother;
- Hypertension in the mother;
- Multiple pregnancy involving twins or triplets;
- Amniotic fluid problems;
- Premature rupture of the amniotic sac;
- Lack of oxygen to the baby;
- Baby in breech position;
- Umbilical cord wrapped around the baby’s neck;
- Use of forceps during delivery; or
- Cesarean, or c-section delivery.
Who is Liable for NICU Injuries in Chicago?
Many newborns ultimately require care in a NICU because a healthcare provider failed to diagnose a condition in the mother during pregnancy or ultimately made an error during childbirth, such as a fetal monitoring error. In general, the following parties may be liable for birth injuries that require NICU care, but it is important to seek advice from a birth injury attorney in Chicago:
- Ob-gyn who treated the mother during pregnancy;
- Ob-gyn delivering the baby;
- Nurse during labor and delivery;
- Hospital where the labor and delivery occurred; or
- Laboratory that returned tests during the mother’s pregnancy.
Contact Our Chicago NICU Lawyers Today
Healthcare providers can make many different types of errors that can result in birth injuries requiring NICU care. Our NICU attorneys in Chicago can help your family to seek the financial compensation you need and deserve. Do not hesitate to get in touch with our firm to find out more about filing a birth injury claim after a NICU error. Contact Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC today for more information.
