A birth injury can be one of the most traumatic things a parent will ever face. After months of waiting for a healthy baby and wishing for a safe delivery, it’s possible something will go wrong, and your child will suffer shoulder dystocia, cerebral palsy, a brain injury, or a birth defect during the birthing process. Whether your baby was hurt due to a doctor’s negligence or you or your partner suffered an injury during a cesarean section or vaginal delivery due to medical malpractice, a birth injury is serious and something you should do your best to address quickly. If your child suffered a spinal cord injury or something went wrong with the umbilical cord, you could be looking at major medical expenses and the need for ongoing care in the future. For more information on how to cope with a birth injury early on, read on.
Hiring an Experienced Birth Injury Attorney
After experiencing a birth injury of any kind, the first thing you’ll want to do is find an attorney experienced in the different types of birth injuries. They will be able to advocate for fair compensation and help you and your baby get the medical care you need moving forward. Whether your baby is experiencing delays due to oxygen deprivation after a hard vaginal birth, or you or your child could have a permanent disability, hiring a birth injury lawyer will be your best chance in winning a lawsuit that will help you down the road.
Maybe you live in Illinois and are looking for legal advice after medical errors made during the delivery process. It’s normal for parents to be unsure about where to start while juggling the mental anguish that comes with being worried about your family. By doing a quick Google search for birth injury lawyers in Chicago, you’ll be able to set up a free consultation to know your legal options when it comes to the best ways to proceed legally. An experienced birth injury attorney can also provide you with resources that will help you focus on recovery, health, and healing as they tackle the birth injury litigation for you.
Building a Support Network
A big part of handling a birth injury situation will come down to your support system. It’s a good idea to ask friends and family for help where you can. Whether it’s that they make meals, babysit older children, or simply provide listening ears, leaning on friends and family during this challenging time is a great way to help yourself through the grieving process.
Don’t stop with friends and family. Consider hiring a licensed therapist who will work with you to help you unravel normal feelings of anger, fear, grief, and more. A simple therapists search for a family therapist or individual therapist in your area is a great place to start. You could also try With Therapy, a comprehensive listing of therapists all over the United States. Therapists can also suggest group supports where you’ll be able to meet with other parents navigating similar birth injury cases to yours.
Making a Plan for the Future
Grief is hard, and it will be a normal part of the process. The good news is that a birth injury doesn’t have to mean your dreams are over or that things will never be how you hoped. While you may need individual therapy or to see a family therapist to cope with the loss of a normal life you’d imagined, there are ways to move on.
In fact, many parents report great outcomes with common injuries, even when they include permanent injury. Start with a free consultation with a birth injury attorney, so they can help you get fair compensation and ensure that you and your baby have the tools and resources you need to give you peace of mind and a better quality of life.