Amniocentesis Errors
Amniocentesis is a diagnostic test that can provide important information about a fetus’s health to doctors and parents. In this test, a needle is inserted through the mother’s abdomen and into the uterus, where amniotic fluid is extracted. This fluid can give doctors information on genetic diseases, development of the fetus, and other vital statistics. Unfortunately, this procedure is invasive and can cause health problems for the fetus or the expectant mother, including birth injuries.
Reasons for Amniocentesis
There are two main types of amniocenteses, and they are performed for different reasons:
- Genetic amniocenteses – These tests are usually done earlier in the pregnancy, and are therefore more risky. Most are performed after week 15, when the greatest danger of harm to the fetus has passed, but sometimes there is reason for them to be done as early as week 11. These tests provide genetic information about the fetus, which may be called for if you had a positive prenatal screening test, know that a genetic disease runs in your family, or are over the age of 35.
- Maturity amniocenteses – These are usually done after 32 weeks of pregnancy to determine if a fetus’s lungs have developed enough for an early delivery.
Amniocenteses may also be performed to decrease the amount of amniotic fluid or check for possible infection in the fetus or uterus.
Resulting Birth Injuries
There are risks with this test as with all invasive medical procedures. However, sometimes doctor error may cause:
- Miscarriage or early birth
- Infection to the baby, resulting in injury
- Leaking of amniotic fluid, which can lead to orthopedic problems for the baby
- Piercing of the baby’s limbs or umbilical cord
- Bleeding in the uterus, leading to oxygen deprivation for the baby
While these injuries are not as common as some other birth injuries, they can occur.
Contact Us
If you believe that your baby’s birth injury was caused by negligent care during an amniocentesis, call the Philadelphia birth injury attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., today at 215-238-1130.