Twin Birth Injury Lawyers serving all of New Jersey
Having one child is a miraculous event, but two? Perhaps even more amazing. While multiple birth pregnancies are a miracle of nature and more than ever, of science, they are also inherently more dangerous that typical pregnancies involving only one baby. In fact, having twins automatically places you in the “high risk pregnancy” category. Considering this, OB-GYNs and other doctors must take additional precautions while providing prenatal care, during childbirth, and after each baby has been delivered. Failure to take necessary steps while monitoring and managing a twins pregnancy can put both the mother in harm’s way, and the children at risk for serious birth injuries.
If you or your babies experienced complications or injuries and you suspect errors during pregnancy, labor or delivery were the cause, you should know that such mistakes may be considered medical malpractice. With the costs of medical care, at-home accommodations, equipment, medications, and therapies looming large, a successful recovery in a birth injury lawsuit can be essential. For immediate assistance from a knowledgeable birth injury lawyer in New Jersey, contact us today at 866-708-8617. Our legal has extensive experience with medical malpractice in multiple pregnancy situations. We will provide you with a free consultation and answers to some of your pressing questions.
Are Twins at Higher Risk of Birth Injuries?
The incidence of twins and multiple births has increased in recent years, due in part to the widespread use of in vitro fertilization and other fertility treatments. The overall increase in maternal age and the rate of maternal obesity have also contributed to the rise in pregnancies involving twins. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 128,310 twin births and 3,675 births involving triplets in the U.S. in the latest year reported, placing the birth rate for twins at approximately 33.3 per 1,000 live births.
With twin pregnancies and births on the rise, questions naturally arise about the risks associated with these pregnancies. Twins are at higher risk for birth injuries. In fact, a broad range of complications and conditions can and do occur in multiple birth situations, including:
- Cerebral palsy
- Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
- Epilepsy
- Developmental delays
- Breathing problems
- Issues with feeding
- Preterm delivery
- Umbilical cord problems
- Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR)
- Underdeveloped lungs
- Death of one or both twins
Managing the Risks of Having Twins
Doctors must take extra caution when managing twins, triplets, and multiple births. In some cases, a woman who is pregnant with twins will be referred to a maternal-fetal specialist (MFMs) with additional specialized training for this type of care.
Your doctor will determine which type of twins you are carrying. There are three distinct types of twins, each of which has its own unique characteristics. Dichorionic-diamniotic refers to twins with separate chorions and amniotic sacs (and typically their own placentas). These twins may be identical or fraternal. On the other hand, monochorionic-diamniotic twins share a single chorion and placenta, but each has an amniotic sac. These babies are identical. Lastly, monochorionic-monoamniotic twins have the same amniotic sac, chorion, and placenta. They are also identical. Twins that are monochorionic are generally at higher risk than dichorionic twins.
Regardless of the type of twins pregnancy in your case, your doctor must provide adequate care, which involves increased monitoring, prenatal testing, and often, a scheduled early delivery. Any medical professional who is responsible for prenatal care in a twins pregnancy must regularly monitor the mother and babies. This is most commonly done with frequent ultrasound testing. Other prenatal testing in multiple pregnancies include: amniotic fluid tests, nonstress tests (NSTs), and diligently monitoring the mother for signs of conditions such as preeclampsia.
Early delivery is often advisable in twin pregnancies, and more the 50 percent of twin births are premature. According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) dichorionic-monochorionic twins may be delivered at 34 to 37 weeks, while monochorionic twins may be delivered even sooner. Twins are also often delivered via C-section.
Gave Birth to Twins with Birth Injury in NJ?
If you delivered twins and one or more of your babies experienced complications, you should strongly consider speaking with an experienced New Jersey birth injury attorney about your individual case. If your twin pregnancy, labor, delivery, or postnatal care was below the appropriate standard of care, you may have grounds to pursue financial compensation. Contact us 24/7 at 866-708-8617 for a free consultation. We will review your case free of charge to determine if errors made by a medical professional may have contributed to your child’s injuries.
Resources:
- Complications in Multiples Pregnancy, American Pregnancy Association
- Multiple Births Statistics, CDC
- Multiples: When It’s Twins, Triplets, or More, ACOG
