Alabama Premature Delivery & Birth Injury Lawyer

Was your child born prematurely? Are you now dealing with medical problems? Consulting an attorney is an important step to take in this situation, as you may have been the victim of medical malpractice or some form of professional negligence on the part of your OB/GYN, doctor or nurse. As an Alabama birth injury lawyer, Timothy A. Hughes offers a free consultation to talk about the circumstances of your case and whether you may have a birth injury claim based upon a premature delivery.

 A premature delivery puts an infant at increased risk of injury, due to the fact that the lungs and brain may not be fully developed to properly sustain life outside the womb. A baby is considered to be full term after 37 weeks of pregnancy and is typically considered premature between 26 weeks and 36 weeks. When a child is born during this time, particularly closer to 26 weeks or even earlier, he or she may be at risk of serious injury. Brain injury is one of the most common consequences of a premature delivery, as the baby's lungs are not developed enough to produce a sufficient supply of oxygen to the brain.

There are specific actions that a doctor should take in the event of an early labor or other situation where a baby may be at risk of being born prematurely. Drugs may be administered to help stop an early labor, or the mother may be given a steroid injection that will serve to speed up the baby's development as much as possible. After a premature delivery, hospital staff should act immediately to provide the infant with special care, often including time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the hospital to help prevent complications.

When a doctor acts negligently in any way in relation to early labor or a premature delivery, this may be grounds for a birth injury claim. Contact Alabama premature delivery attorney Timothy A. Hughes today to talk about your legal options.