Pregnancy is an exciting and scary time. Even if you are not a first-time mother, it is entirely understandable to have a little bit of anxiety and trepidation throughout your gestation. However, with so much misinformation out there regarding pregnancy, labor, and birth, it’s easy to get confused about what to expect when you have a little bundle of joy on the way. The reality is that for most mothers, their pregnancy will culminate with a cooing, happy baby. The risk of complications is low, but it’s smart to be aware of these risks to help mitigate them.

Ohio is a fruitful state, boasting an incredible 138,085 live births in 2016. To put that into perspective, six states produced more babies from mothers that year, including California, Texas, and Florida. To put it simply, we love our babies in this beautiful state! Regardless of such high birth numbers, though, tragedy does occasionally strike, leaving mothers empty handed and broken hearted. Preventing these devastating losses should not be the onus of the mother, though there are some things she can do to help ensure a healthy, full-term pregnancy.

Of the nearly 4 million live births that occurred in 2016, over 23,000 of them ended in death. Per every 100,000 live births, there were 587 deaths. How many of these deaths could have been prevented? 8.2 percent of live births included babies with low birth weights (defined as being less than 5.5 pounds), and of those numbers, 9.8 percent of births were preterm. The leading cause of infant deaths during this period was congenital malformations (including deformation and chromosomal abnormalities, which accounted for nearly 5,000 deaths), complications due to premature birth and low birthweight, and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

A healthy diet and lifestyle are vital to help ensure a healthy pregnancy. A mother should follow the guidance of her OBGYN and make sure that she stays up-to-date with her prenatal appointments. Eating a balanced diet, full of fresh fruits and vegetables, is key. (Just make sure you clean them carefully!) Avoid foods that are considered high risk, such as deli meats, raw eggs, raw meat (including tartare and sashimi), alcohol, and soft cheeses. Avoid tobacco products. Make sure you take your vitamins and maintain a healthy weight throughout your pregnancy. Gentle exercise (such as walking) can be beneficial, too. Following these instructions, per the care of your doctor, can help prevent low birth weight and other complications.

Some of the major complications that a mother can encounter during her pregnancy are early labor, birth injuries, and low birth weight. Some of these problems can be prevented, but sadly, sometimes things will be out of your hands. Horrible things happen to good people, and there are doctors out there that should not be practicing. Even if you take all measure to ensure a healthy pregnancy, unexpected loss can still befall you.

Birth injuries are less rare than we want them to be, and one injury is one too many. Some of the types of birth injuries that may your little one may be exposed to include:

• Cerebral Palsy: One of the most common types of cerebral palsy is called spastic cerebral palsy, including spastic diplegia, spastic hemiplegia, and spastic quadriplegia. Other types include athetoid cerebral palsy (also known as dyskinetic cerebral palsy), ataxic cerebral palsy, and hypotonic cerebral palsy.
• Anoxia and Hypoxia: When your baby is unable to get adequate oxygen (hypoxia) or zero oxygen at all (anoxia), this can lead to severe harm to your baby. In as little as five minutes, your child may have lasting and permanent brain damage.
• Erb’s Palsy: This is a type of obstetrical brachial plexus injury, which means that the doctor failed to prevent damage from occurring to the nerves that run from the spine to the arm and neck and shoulder.

Nobody should ever have to suffer from birth complications that can deprive them of their beloved little baby. Pregnancy should be a wonderful time for an expecting mother and father, but despite careful planning and due diligence, bad things do happen. Negligent doctors can often be to blame for these losses, and if you find yourself going home to an empty cradle when you expected to be starting a family, then you need to call me today at 1 (877) 944-4373 for a free initial consultation. You need to act fast, as the statute of limitations is short, only one year after the birth injury.

My goal when I take on your case is not just to give you the financial restitution you deserve for your loss (which is, by no means, ever adequate enough to replace your precious child), but to also get you justice and prevent anyone else from suffering like you have. When you call me, you are not just getting a lawyer who cares about you, but you’re getting an advocate who is there by your side 24/7. I’ll give you my personal cell phone number so you can reach out to me day or night and you can trust that I will answer. When we meet, please understand that I know you are grieving and that I will come to you. I’ll meet you at the hospital or in your home, whatever works best for you.

You don’t need to worry about how you’re going to pay me, either. I work on a contingency basis, which means that my fee comes from a percentage of your compensation. You won’t have to pay a single dime. I’ll make sure all court fees are covered out of my own pocket. I have nearly 40 years of experience serving the greater Cleveland area and I take on Big Cases with Big Results. If your heart is broken and you feel like you deserve justice for your loss, reach out to me today and I’ll Make Them Pay!®.

DISCLAIMER “Please understand the slogan, I’ll Make Them Pay!® is not a guarantee of payment. Both liability and real damages must be proven with a preponderance of the evidence.”