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About ten percent of all babies born in Philadelphia and throughout the United States are preterm. Such a birth occurs to those at less than 37 weeks of gestation. Although doctors at Philadelphia hospitals are increasingly able to help premature babies survive, this is still the most commonly contributing factor to death of infants. Babies born before 32 weeks of pregnancy are particularly endangered and some of these early births could have been averted. Even if they survive and seem to thrive after initial hurdles, premature babies can suffer problems throughout their lives.Common Side Effects of Premature BirthAccording to Philadelphia birth injury attorneys at Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C., there is a 24-32% higher likelihood of birth injuries occurring in the Northeast, than other regions. A large number of these birth injuries result from premature birth.
With so many babies born prematurely and surviving long-term in the U.S., most people know several children or adults who were premature but do not seem to have long-term health problems. However, these individuals may have suffered common problems at birth from which they recovered or outgrew.
Widely-known side effects of prematurity include:
- Breathing problems
- Feeding difficulties
- Cerebral palsy
- Developmental delays and cognitive impairments
- Anemia, jaundice and other blood ailments
- Vision problems
- Hearing problems or deafness
What many people do not realize is that discharge of a premature infant from the hospital is not a clean bill of health. Nor is that time when serious problems for these underdeveloped and highly vulnerable babies end. In fact, long-term ramifications for both the infant and their family often present bigger and even unexpected problems. Some of these ramifications seem at face value to be caused by prematurity itself, while others may require the attention of an experienced Philadelphia Birth Injury Attorney.Bronchopulmonary DysplasiaBronchopulmonary dysplasia is one of a multitude of respiratory problems a premature baby can suffer. However, this one is a bit different than some others, in that the condition can persist into adulthood. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia may require nasal continuous positive airway pressure, also known as CPAP, throughout the preemie’s lifetime. Many premature babies diagnosed with BPD never have normal lung function.Necrotizing EnterocolitisThis serious disease often originating in prematurity causes one in four babies with the ailment to die. Necrotizing enterocolitis is a death of the lining of intestinal walls. That tissue continually dies and falls off. This results in intestinal perforation, serious blockage of the intestines, peritonitis or sepsis. Many babies suffering from necrotizing enterocolitis must have surgery for removal of part of their intestines, a colostomy or ileostomy. AutismWhile the precise causes of autism are still being researched, premature babies are known to have a higher frequency of occurrence of this difficult and enduring disorder. Recent studies have indicated that the brain is not properly wired in babies born before 37 weeks gestation. For babies born before 34 weeks of pregnancy, risk of autism and other intellectual disorders is much more significant.Emotional Issues for Mother and FamiliesBeyond problems associated with infant health, mothers, caregivers and families pay heavy emotional tolls for premature birth of babies. Mothers in particular are susceptible to intense depression and anxiety. These are both related to the burden of caring for the baby and the intensity of the baby’s associated ailments. Depression can be enhanced by hormonal changes, causing irrational behaviors, inability to function in daily life and even suicide.Financial DistressFamilies caring for premature infants generally end up paying for additional medical costs of $250,000 or more. This can burden a family intensely and cause a multitude of other problems within the family unit. In the U.S. each year, premature births carry a societal impact of $26.6 billion. As experienced attorneys have seen many families are left with these costs when birth injuries could have been prevented.
Unfortunately, premature birth and resulting health problems are affected by many factors outside of maternal health. Socio-economic status, quality of medical care, geographic location and other manmade issues can affect whether a baby is delivered before term. Such factors also affect the quality of care that baby receives for birth-related illnesses and injuries. With so many babies born in Philadelphia each year, sadly some of these suffer not only premature birth and associated health ramifications, but also the effects of medical negligence.