After you give birth, the first thing you want to do is to cuddle your new baby. After waiting so long, you just want to spend time with your new bundle of joy. However, shortly after birth, a pediatrician needs to take a look at your baby and examine them for any possible problems. Doctors should screen newborns and infants to rule out potential health complications, such as anemia.
When doctors fail to recognize or properly treat the symptoms of newborn anemia, babies can suffer dire health consequences. If you suspect that a provider’s negligence caused or worsened your infant’s health issues, a knowledgeable birth injury attorney can help you pursue legal action. Speak with a Stamford infant anemia misdiagnosis lawyer at Berkowitz Hanna to get started.
Anemia is a medical disorder in which a person has too low of a red blood cell count in their circulatory system. An anemic person’s circulatory system does not function correctly, causing their body to have insufficient oxygenated blood.
Many babies have a lower red blood cell concentration right after birth because of increased tissue oxygenation. This usually results in asymptomatic anemia, which resolves itself after a period of time.
Symptomatic, or pathologic, anemia in newborns is of more concern because babies with this condition have a low level of hemoglobin in their blood.
Blood loss during a difficult birth is the leading cause of neonatal anemia. Traumatic deliveries involving incidents such as placental abruption, traumatic birth, or placenta previa can cause significant blood loss in a newborn. Doctors need to monitor a baby’s blood after delivery. However, drawing too much blood for laboratory testing can also result in too much blood loss, particularly for very premature infants.
Newborn anemia can occur when a baby does not share the same blood type as their mother due to the destruction of red blood cells. Infections, medications, and genetic problems can also cause red blood cell destruction in newborns.
While all newborns start life with naturally lower concentrations of red blood cells, most babies’ bodies can regulate with a little bit of time. Some infants, particularly premature newborns, do not recover on their own and are more prone to anemia.
Early screening and diagnosis are crucial with newborn anemia, since there are treatment options available. Doctors who fail to quickly and properly screen for and treat newborn anemia could be held accountable with the help of an experienced Stamford infant anemia misdiagnosis attorney.
When infants are anemic, some present with the following signs:
There are various medical treatments for treating infant anemia, ranging from iron supplements to blood and exchange transfusions. However, a doctor’s late or wrongful diagnosis can prevent an infant from getting the treatments they need. In many cases, a late diagnosis is just as dangerous as getting no diagnosis at all. An infant anemia misdiagnosis lawyer can help Stamford families understand their legal options in these situations.
Failure to recognize and treat anemia could result in serious health problems that could even endanger an infant’s life. If you believe that your baby suffered serious harm because their doctors did not correctly manage the baby’s neonatal anemia, your family could be eligible for legal and financial relief.
At Berkowitz Hanna, we understand how painful it is to watch your newborn suffer. A compassionate Stamford infant anemia misdiagnosis lawyer can work aggressively to help you hold the medical staff accountable for their negligence. Schedule your free consultation today to learn more about what we can do for you.
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