Unborn babies, like adults, come in all shapes and sizes. The shape and size of an adult can have a significant impact on their overall health. Being too big or too small in an unborn baby can cause serious problems, potentially for both the baby and the mother, before, during, and after birth.
When a baby weighs more than 8 pounds, 13 ounces at birth or any time before birth, this is referred to as fetal macrosomia. It also refers to an unborn child who weighs 90% or more of the average for a baby of the same gestational age. A baby can be… large at times. However, the doctor should closely monitor the fetal size of the baby, as well as any conditions or complicating factors for the mother.
Standard prenatal care includes fundal height measurements and ultrasounds to determine the amount of amniotic fluid present. Ultrasounds can also be used to measure the baby and provide information about the baby’s size. If your doctor fails to perform routine testing, or if they do but misinterpret or ignore the results, it could be considered malpractice if a negative outcome occurs, such as injury to the mother or baby as a result of the missed information. The vaginal delivery of a baby with macrosomia may result in birth injuries to either the baby or the mother. Your baby could be born with low blood sugar, develop childhood obesity, and develop metabolic syndrome, which includes high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat, and abnormal cholesterol. If a doctor suspects that a baby has macrosomia, he or she can and should take precautions to protect both the baby and the mother.
If you or your child were injured as a result of a healthcare provider’s failure to monitor for macrosomia, our office may be able to assist you. Our highly experienced medical malpractice attorneys at DeFrancisco & Falgiatano may be able to assist you in obtaining the compensation you deserve. We serve clients throughout Upstate New York and have offices in several convenient locations. Our extensive experience in the field of medical malpractice is reflected in the results we have obtained for our clients.
There are a few risk factors that increase the likelihood of a baby having macrosomia:
- The mother had diabetes before becoming pregnant.
- The mother had previously suffered from macrosomia.
- Pregnancy weight gain that is above average.
- Fetal male.
- The mother’s birth weight and height.
- The mother is under the age of 17.
- Twins or multiples (multiparity).
- The mother’s weight before pregnancy.
- Pregnant for more than 40 weeks.
- Risks related to macrosomia.
If the baby has macrosomia, a woman giving birth may face several difficulties. The baby may become “stuck” in the birth canal, a condition known as shoulder dystocia, or suffer other birth injuries, lacerations of the genital tract, which are tears in the vaginal tissues and the perineal muscles (between the vagina and the anus), severe bleeding occurs when the uterine muscles do not contract properly (uterine atony), uterine rupture, which occurs when the uterus tears (usually as a result of a previous C-section or other surgery), and treatment of macrosomia-related problems.
By properly managing diabetes and monitoring weight during pregnancy, a pregnant mother can reduce the risks of her child being born with macrosomia. A C-section delivery, rather than a vaginal delivery, could save the mother’s life.
If you believe your birth injury (or your baby’s) was caused by medical malpractice, you should first seek a diagnosis from a different doctor (one from a different medical practice or group). If the doctor believes your medical problems (or those of your baby) are the result of macrosomia, which your obstetrician failed to diagnose during pregnancy, you may be a victim of medical malpractice.
If you believe you can claim medical malpractice, you should contact Upstate New York’s experienced and knowledgeable medical malpractice attorneys at DeFrancisco & Falgiatano. We represent injured clients and their families throughout Upstate New York, including Syracuse, Rochester, Albany, Buffalo, Elmira, Binghamton, Auburn, Ithaca, Oswego, Norwich, Herkimer, Delhi, Cooperstown, Cortland, Lowville, Oneida, Watertown, Utica, Canandaigua, Wampsville, Lyons, and surrounding areas. Please call us at 833-200-2000 or contact us via our online form to discuss your case.