Macrosomia and Birth Injuries

Ohio birth injury attorney explains fetal risk factors of fetal macrosomia

Larger than normal infants might not seem like a big problem. But when an unborn baby is significantly larger than normal, a medical condition known as macrosomia, serious birth injuries can occur either during pregnancy or delivery. That’s why larger than normal babies are considered a serious fetal risk factor.

An estimated 6 to 10 percent of infants have macrosomia, according to a medical study published by the National Center for Biological Information (NCBI). This is why experienced obstetricians know what to look for and carefully monitor the size of the fetus during a woman’s pregnancy.

Unfortunately, some doctors miss the warning signs and don’t take the necessary steps to protect the health of the baby and the mother. When that happens, the at-fault healthcare professional needs to be held accountable for their actions.

Put your trust in the law firm that puts your needs first

Cleveland birth injury lawyer John A. Lancione can stand up for your family’s rights. For more than three decades, attorney Lancione has been skillfully handling birth injury claims in Ohio and nationwide. As a result, he has an in-depth understanding of the laws and legal system when it comes to such complex legal cases.

The Lancione Law Firm has a national reputation for successfully resolving birth injury cases. That’s why other lawyers routinely refer such cases to our law firm. They know we know how to get the job done right. Since our Cleveland area law firm was founded, we have recovered more than $350 million in settlements and verdicts for our clients, including one of Ohio’s largest malpractice verdicts. Case results truly matter here.

We realize your case is about more than just money. It’s about holding medical professionals responsible for what happened. We also never forget what matters most – your best interests. That’s why we will keep you informed throughout the legal process. And if you ever have a question about the status of your case, you can call attorney Lancione directly anytime on his personal cellphone. We’re here for you when you need us most.

What is macrosomia?

Medical professionals define macrosomia as any fetus or newborn infant who weighs more than 4 kilograms or 8.8 pounds. A fetus that weighs more than 8.8 pounds is described as being “large for gestational age” (LGA). There are three different types of macrosomia based on the size of the infant. The three different types or grades of macrosomia are:

• Macrosomia Grade 1 – 4,000 – 4,499 grams (8.8 to 9.9 pounds)
• Macrosomia Grade 2 – 4,500 – 4,999 grams (9.9 to 11 pounds)
• Macrosomia Grade 3 – Over 5,000 grams (over 11 pounds)

Doctors need to closely monitor the size of the fetus during pregnancy in order to avoid preventable birth injuries.

What birth injuries are caused by macrosomia?

Fetal macrosomia is associated with many serious birth injuries during pregnancy or s delivery. Such birth injuries include:

• Uterine rupture, meaning a tear in the uterus, especially if the mother previously had a cesarean section (C-section).
• Brain injuries, including Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) due to lack of oxygen (known as oxygen deprivation) during the pregnancy or delivery.
• Complications due to a C-section error or delayed C-section.
• Injuries caused by misuse of forceps and extractors during the delivery process.
• Other labor and delivery problems due to the larger than normal size of the infant.

In each case, a thorough investigation needs to be conducted to determine what happened. That way, negligent medical professionals can be held accountable if they made a mistake that resulted in a serious birth injury.

What are common causes?

Infants are large for their age for many different reasons. Some of the most common causes of macrosomia include:

• Pregnant women with a history of diabetes.
• Gestational diabetes, a form of diabetes that only affects pregnant women.
• Pregnant women over 35 years old.
• Women with a history of macrosomia in their families.

These are just some of the maternal risk factors and reasons why infants develop fetal macrosomia.

Hold medical professionals accountable. Contact our Ohio law firm

You might think you don’t need a birth injury lawyer if a medical professional was clearly at fault and caused your child’s birth injury. But the reality such injury claims often turn into complicated legal cases. Often, it’s because the at-fault obstetrician or another medical professional who caused the injury denies doing anything wrong. In fact, they often hire a lawyer to defend their actions and deny your injury claim.

Ohio birth injury attorney John A. Lancione knows exactly what to do in such situations. As your lawyer, he will get right to work gathering evidence in support of your injury claim. He knows how to analyze medical records. Our law firm also frequently consults with medical experts for a more in-depth analysis. We leave no stone unturned in pursuit of justice.

Discover what our Ohio law firm can do for you. Contact us and schedule a free consultation at The Lancione Law Firm. You can reach us online or call (440) 331-6100 or (877) 515-4369 to speak with Cleveland birth injury lawyer John A. Lancione.