Every parent dreams of having happy, healthy children. But sometimes, as a result of injury or developmental issues, your child might struggle with certain challenges that could affect their development and happiness. In the US alone, over 14 million children under 18 have a disability, and medical research shows that these disabilities are often associated with an increased risk of injury. If you are a new mother struggling to find the answers to these challenges, this guide is for you!
Developmental problems
How can we define developmental problems? Well, experts have described it differently from each other, but all the definitions are reliable. You can better understand this problem by calling it a “delay.” People may also call them “growth delays” since they happen when your child lags behind same-age kids socially, physically, or emotionally. Children who haven’t developed properly may find it very hard to function properly. Examples include cerebral palsy, learning issues, and intellectual disabilities.
Sometimes, developmental challenges emerge because of birth-related defects, injuries, or problems. It means your child had complications during delivery – for different reasons, including a neglectful doctor – and received an injury. Now, not every injury can lead to developmental issues in newborns. It would be best if you looked out for other birth injuries e.g. bruising, facial paralysis, and brachial palsy, among others. However, head injuries can hinder the baby’s proper growth.
Symptoms and some warning signs
What should parents do if they suspect their child has suffered a birth injury? This article shall discuss in-depth the steps you can take to protect your child’s future.
Mothers must be prepared for all kinds of potential issues that could affect their child’s development, whether it is due to injury or a more serious condition.
To seek further guidance, visit www.childbirthinjuries.com and learn about the wide range of developmental issues and injuries your child may face. Here, you will find information on everything from common childhood conditions to seeking legal assistance if your child has suffered an injury or developmental disorder.
The following are some symptoms you need to learn to look out for:
- Weak motor skills
- Struggles academically
- Has loose or floppy limbs
- Has trouble socializing with kids
- Suffers from speech impediments
- Cannot remember things properly
- Scores below average on the IQ test
- Cannot connect actions with their consequences
- Has problem doing daily tasks, e.g., getting dressed
- Takes a lot of time to sit, crawl, etc
Causes of development challenges
Developmental challenges aren’t uncommon in the United States right now, statistics have indicated. So, studies show that some 17% of children aged 3-17 suffer from at least one developmental disability. But not every condition has an exact cause since certain problems – such as Down syndrome – can exist due to a genetic problem. On the other hand, some conditions are caused by medical errors, i.e., your doctor neglecting their duties and making a mistake. Here are some of the reasons why these problems exist:
- Infections:- Several infections may be held responsible for developmental problems
- Severe trauma:- Traumatic conditions, i.e., PTSD, can lead to developmental challenges.
- Metabolic issues:- Some children suffer from growth issues due to phenylketonuria (PKU)
- Shaken baby syndrome:- Shaking the baby often leads to head injuries, thereby causing a delay in the child’s growth
- Prenatal alcohol exposure:- Exposing the fetus to poisonous substances can harm the growth of that baby such as lead, asbestos, or alcohol
How to handle your child properly?
First-time mothers should realize that handling their children properly can prevent developmental issues and ensure the newborn’s well-being. The nervousness about parents accidentally hurting a baby should not prevent mothers from caressing their newborns and expressing their love. Remembering some little basics can help moms ensure their babies develop properly and never stay behind other kids. Learn how to handle your child during different phases of the baby’s life. Here are some fundamentals to realize:
- When gabbing the baby, support the baby’s head and neck
- Refrain from shaking the baby (as explained above) or throwing the baby
- Bond with your child to help the child develop emotionally and connect with people
- Feed the newborn on demand and learn how often your child needs to be fed for proper growth
- Understand that newborns may spend more than one-half of a day sleeping, and they need rest to develop fine
What should mothers do in these cases?
Hearing that your child suffers from growth delays shouldn’t prevent you from seeking justice to protect your newborn’s future. It doesn’t matter when you discover the problem – even if it appears years after childbirth – you can get compensated for the mistake made by your doctor. Statistics can show you how every 7 out of 1,000 babies born on American soil suffer from birth injuries. But getting compensation is helpful for your child’s treatment and rehabilitation. We suggest you do the following things quickly:
- Notice the symptoms and determine the cause of the child’s growth delay
- Contact an experienced birth injury lawyer and share your case with them
- Let another physician evaluate your infant to realize if the injury was preventable
- Gather relevant documents to show that a congenital disability has caused the delay
- Contact several potential witnesses to strengthen your lawsuit against the guilty party
So, how do these cases end? Well, parents mostly get settlement offers from the guilty party. If you wish to accept these offers, the case won’t be pursued in court. However, a few parents feel that such an offer doesn’t compensate for their child’s future expenses. In this case, you have to go to court. Lawyers from both sides can present their cases. An average settlement lies around a million dollars. But courts can award an even larger sum your child needs to overcome the child’s developmental disability.
Conclusion
Now that we’ve established that developmental challenges aren’t uncommon in the United States. Mothers must know about different growth delays, learn their symptoms, and understand why an infant’s growth can be slower than usual. Moreover, mothers should realize that they can get justice if a developmental problem is caused by a doctor being neglectful. Hire a good lawyer, collect all relevant documents, and prepare your case. Learn to handle the child properly to ensure the baby’s well-being.