Call Today For A Free Consultation: 480-951-3949

Call Today For A Free Consultation: 480-951-3949

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Helping Birth Injury Victims Involving Macrosomia (Large Babies)

Big babies are cute to look at and cuddly to hold, but their journey down the birth canal may be problematic due to the child’s enormous size. The average birth weight for a baby is 7 pounds. The medical term for babies weighing between 8 pounds, 13 ounces and 9 pounds, 15 ounces is macrosomia. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), macrosomia occurs in about 10 percent of all pregnancies in the United States. Large babies are at greater risk for birth injuries if delivered vaginally. After delivery, they are more prone to suffer from jaundice, respiratory distress and low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) than babies of average weight. This is especially true if a baby with macrosomia is poorly monitored for any of these conditions within the first hours or days after birth. At The Law Office of Robert H. Kleinschmidt, P.C., in Scottsdale, our attorney works hard to help hold negligent medical professionals accountable and to help you recover the full and fair compensation to which you are entitled.

Risk Factors For Large Birth Weight Babies

Uncontrolled gestational diabetes in the mother is the most common cause of macrosomia. Other risk factors include:

  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Obesity or excessive weight gain during pregnancy
  • Large parents
  • Gender. Males are affected more than females.
  • Being past the delivery due date
  • Ethnicity. Babies born to Hispanic women are at greater risk.

Women without any of these risk factors can also produce a baby with macrosomia.

Macrosomia Birth Complications And Risks For Injury During Delivery

An abnormally large baby increases the chances of a woman having a difficult delivery or needing a cesarean section. Possible complications to the child include:

Shoulder dystocia. This occurs when a baby’s anterior shoulder becomes wedged behind the mother’s pubic bone. The baby can suffer asphyxia and develop brain damage within five minutes if not freed from the birth canal.

A fractured collarbone, clavicle or humerus during a traumatic delivery

Brachial plexus injures such as Erb-Duchenne palsy. This type of injury occurs when the baby’s neck is pulled too roughly to one side during delivery, causing stretching or tearing of the brachial plexus nerves in the baby’s shoulder and neck.

Birth asphyxia from lack of oxygen if the baby is stuck in the birth passage too long, which can lead to permanent brain damage and cerebral palsy

The Responsibility Of Health Care Providers To Monitor Babies

Health care providers have a responsibility to properly diagnose, monitor and manage or control any underlying conditions that could compromise the health of a mother and her baby. In addition, medical staff in the nursery or neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) should be able to handle any critical situation involving the child that may arise before, during or in the hours or days after delivery.

If you feel that your baby suffered injuries due to staff negligence, delivery room errors or undetected gestational diabetes, you may be entitled to receive compensation.

Contact Our Arizona Lawyer For Help With Your Birth Injury Claim

An attorney at The Law Office of Robert H. Kleinschmidt, P.C., will be glad to discuss your case. We are located off the 101 and Via de Ventura in Scottsdale. Please contact our office via email or call us at 480-951-3949. We provide legal representation to people throughout the greater Phoenix area.