Can Epidural Errors Cause Birth Injury?

What to Do If Your Child Sustained a Birth Injury Related to Your Epidural

Epidurals are a commonly used form of pain management during labor and delivery. The procedure, however, can have detrimental effects if not properly administered. It is important to contact an attorney immediately if you believe your child sustained a birth injury as the result of an epidural error.

At The Beasley Law Firm, we have over six decades of experience representing birth injury claims. Our lawyers understand the devastation and lifelong impact that a birth injury can have on a family, which is why we fight tirelessly to ensure that our clients receive the maximum compensation allowed. 

If you suspect that an epidural error caused your child’s birth injury, contact our office at (215) 866-2424 for a free consultation. 

What Is an Epidural?

Epidural is commonly used to refer to three different types of procedures: epidural, spinal, and combined spinal-epidural (CSE). In each procedure, the goal is to relieve a woman’s pain experienced during labor and delivery. 

Over the course of a decade, epidural rates increased by 10%. According to research reviewed in an article by Stanford Medicine, 71% of women were using epidurals or other spinal anesthesia during labor by 2018. 

What Are Common Epidural Errors?

Epidural errors can cause harm to both mother and child. Anesthesiology errors, including those related to the administration of an epidural, are one of the most common types of medical negligence.

Examples of epidural errors include:  

• Failure to properly administer the epidural
• Administration of the wrong medication
• Administration of too much medication
• Failure to monitor for fetal or maternal distress
• Failure to diagnose and treat an allergic reaction

If you suspect that a medical mistake was made during the administration of your epidural, you should consult with an experienced attorney. You might be entitled to compensation based on your injuries or your child’s birth injuries. 

What Risks to Infants Are Associated with Epidural Errors?

One of the main risks with epidural anesthesia is that it could slow down the progression of labor. Prolonged labor can result in fetal distress, which may cause significant harm to an infant. Fetal distress has been linked to numerous birth injuries.

Left untreated fetal distress may cause:

• Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
• Cerebral palsy
• Life-threatening infections
• Brain injury
• Stillbirth

If you are administered an epidural during labor and delivery, it is imperative that your healthcare provider closely monitor for fetal distress and take immediate action at any sign of a problem. Failure to act quickly can have long-lasting effects and may be grounds for a medical malpractice claim. 

Contact Our Office for a Free Birth Injury Case Evaluation

Did your infant sustain a birth injury during the labor and delivery process? Do you suspect that their birth injury resulted from an epidural error? Contact our office today at (215) 866-2424 for a free consultation. 

At The Beasley Firm, we are here to help you understand your rights and hold negligent medical providers accountable for their mistakes. We have obtained over $2 billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients, including multiple record-setting judgments. Call now to get started.