Why Is My Child in the NICU?

Our Chicago, IL Birth Injury Attorneys Explain Why

Newborn children sometimes have serious health issues. And when they do, many hospitals often place children with birth injuries into a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). These specially designed units were created to treat newborn children with health conditions that require extra attention.

All parents experience a significant amount of fear when their baby is admitted into the NICU. You want what’s best for your child. But you’re also probably wondering why your child requires extra care. And if something goes wrong while your child is being treated in the NICU, it’s important to talk to a lawyer as soon as possible to determine if medical negligence caused your child’s injury or illness.

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At Jeffrey M. Goldberg Law Offices, PC, we have dedicated our careers to fighting for the rights of families dealing with birth injuries due to negligence or the reckless behavior of medical professionals. For more than 40 years, our attorneys have been holding medical professionals accountable for their actions.

With offices in Chicago, Illinois, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, we serve clients throughout the country who have had newborns admitted to NICUs due to medication errors, brain damage, or other causes. We have the knowledge and experience you need to demand the financial compensation you deserve. Contact us and arrange a free consultation today.

Common Reasons Why

There are a number of common reasons why babies are admitted into the NICU, which contains highly specialized equipment designed to aid newborn babies with breathing, blood flow, and other essential bodily functions. Reasons why children are admitted to the NICU include:

• Premature birth – This is probably the most common reason for admission to the NICU. In some cases, even children who are only a day or two early can be admitted as a standard precaution. Other cases are much more serious, as the child needs to be incubated and fed intravenously, and other medical interventions become necessary.
• Diabetes – Especially when mothers have diabetes, it is not uncommon for the children to take some time to become accustomed to making their own insulin, and until they do, they need more intensive attention from the medical staff.
• Anemia – Anemia is a low count of blood cells that requires frequent blood checks and medical attention.
  Bronchopulmonary dysplasia – This is the inability to take in adequate oxygen, which of course requires oxygen to be administered manually. This can occur in premature and full-term infants whose lungs have not developed properly.
• Jaundice – Jaundice is another common reason for admitting children into the NICU. It is a result of high bilirubin (a natural byproduct that occurs when the body breaks down cells) count in the blood.
• Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (“HIE”)– This is a lack of sufficient oxygen and/or blood flow to the brain resulting in brain injury, including but not limited to cerebral palsy.

Many cases of children in the NICU result from unavoidable natural causes, but others are a direct result of negligence or malpractice on the part of the medical professionals involved with the birth or postnatal care. The only way to be sure is to talk with an experienced lawyer from our team about your legal options.

How a Birth Injury Lawyer Can Help You

Taking legal action might be the last thing on your mind at this time, especially if your family is still dealing with a serious health crisis involving your child. But it’s important to know that you only have a limited amount of time to take legal action. These deadlines vary from state to state and are known as the statute of limitations.

If you miss this deadline, you may forfeit your right to take legal action and obtain the financial compensation you deserve for medical bills, future surgical procedures, in-home care, and other related expenses. These bills can sometimes add up to thousands or even millions of dollars.

Your family should not have to pay for someone else’s mistakes. You deserve to be compensated and the medical professionals responsible for your child’s injuries should be held accountable for their actions. Schedule a free case evaluation today at our Chicago or Milwaukee office. We can also come to you if that’s more convenient. You decide. Your best interests come first here. Call us now at 312-236-4146.