After months of excitement and preparation for the birth of a child, it can be a heart-rendering disappointment if the child, your child, becomes compromised – either physically, mentally, or both – because of childbirth malpractice.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) leading to brain damage, cerebral palsy and other birth injuries that might have been preventable are potentially the most haunting to parents, as they have lifelong consequences. Parents may ask themselves repeatedly, “What if I had chosen a different doctor?” or “What is I had chosen a different medical team?” or “What if I had chosen a different hospital?”

Childbirth malpractice cannot possibly account for all birth injuries. Some traumatic birth events are part and parcel of the risk of bringing life into this world. Genetic diseases and conditions, difficulties with pregnancy and labor, and statistics can combine and result in injury that no doctor or medical team could prevent under the best of circumstances.

Nevertheless, situations involving childbirth malpractice in which a child suffers lifelong injuries are real and can take their toll daily on a family. It takes a lot of money to care for a special needs child, and often one of the parents must drop out of the workforce altogether to care for the child. The expense of providing daily care if they were to work would be prohibitive.

Expensive and ongoing medical treatment for an injured infant throughout childhood and into adulthood might include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.

The family might need to invest in expensive medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches. Some of this cost may be absorbed by medical insurance–if the family has insurance at all. Whatever cost remains can be a constant drain on the relationships the family is built upon.

Some of the more common birth injuries that occur because of childbirth malpractice are cerebral palsy, TBI with permanent brain damage, retinopathy of prematurity (a malformation of blood vessels in the retinas of the eyes of babies born prior to term), spinal cord injury, developmental disabilities, broken bones, brachial plexus damage (damage to the nerves that control infant arm and hand movement), facial paralysis, and bacterial infections.

The problem with a lot of birth injuries resulting from childbirth malpractice is that they may not show themselves for years or the full extent and toll of them may not be evident for a lengthy period.

Children may be able to compensate for certain injuries over time because of developmental leaps, but then again, those injuries may haunt them and disable them for life. It is a very difficult assessment to make based on a single point in time.

Do you have evidence that your infant or child was hurt because of childbirth malpractice? You may qualify to join a free birth injury medical malpractice lawsuit investigation.