You might be worried if your baby has been born with low birth weight. Six percent of babies are born with a low birth weight according to Beingtheparent.com. While some babies with low birth weight go on to be healthy and some babies are simply born smaller than others, there are also ways that medical staff caring for you should try to help you avoid having a baby with low birth weight. If your child suffers from vision problems or a learning disability as a result of low birth weight, you may be entitled to compensation. 

Premature Birth

Your baby might have been born with low birth weight because he or she was premature. Late preterm infants can look deceptively healthy but may have a high rate of fatalities. Unfortunately, a large percentage of participants never talk about the issue of premature birth, and your healthcare provider might be responsible for medical malpractice if there was something that could have been done to prevent premature birth. 

The ob-gyn must monitor the mother for signs of placenta problems, weight issues, an incompetent cervix, and pregnancy infections. The ob-gyn has steps that he or she can take to help you carry the baby to term or at least as far as possible.

If you have had a prior preterm birth, you may be at a greater risk of having another preterm birth. Therefore, your birth defect attorney may argue that your doctor should have known that there was a risk present.

Intrauterine Growth Restrictions

Another cause of low birth weight is intrauterine growth restrictions. Under these circumstances, you may not be able to sue a doctor for medical malpractice because these cases are often unavoidable. However, there are some cases where a birth defect attorney might argue that your doctor could trace the intrauterine growth restrictions and may be able to intervene. 

With close monitoring, a doctor may identify intrauterine growth restrictions in the third trimester. Some birth defect attorneys see cases where a doctor detected intrauterine growth restrictions and failed to take them seriously. This may lead to the child not receiving enough oxygen and may lead to other birth defects, such as cerebral palsy. The child might suffer from long-term developmental delays, permanent injury, and death. 

Improper Guidance

There are steps you may take to reduce the risk of low birth weight, such as taking folic acid. If your doctor doesn't warn you of this, you may have a case. Talk to a birth defect attorney to learn more.