A recent study conducted by Kaiser Permanente shows that the number of women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes has doubled between 1999 and 2005. Diabetes is a serious disease which can have a dangerous impact on pregnancy.

The study shows that in 1999 the 0.81 percent out of 100 women had a preexisting form of diabetes while pregnant. In 2005, the amount of women with preexisting diabetes jumped to 1.82 per 100 births.

The researchers that conducted the study claim that the rise in diabetes is linked with the rise in obesity. Both obesity and diabetes can lead to serious conditions during pregnancy, leaving the child more susceptible to birth injuries.

Diabetes increases the risk of miscarriage, still birth, birth defects and difficult deliveries. It is very important that a doctor monitors pregnant women with diabetes.

Birth injury attorneys are working on cases in which doctors and hospitals have failed to properly monitor and care for pregnant women with diabetes, resulting in serious birth trauma.  
 

In South Florida, many obstetricians have stopped delivering babies and caring for high-risk patients in an attempt to avoid rising medical malpractice premiums.

The decreasing number of available obstetricians is causing longer waits to see a doctor and a severing of doctor/patient relationships.

The Palm Beach County medical society is projecting a 30 percent decrease of obstetricians. They also project that the need for obstetricians will grow by 7 percent in three years.

With fewer doctors on hand and long waiting times for appointments, major medical problems can go undetected. This can lead to devastating consequences during the birth of a child, possibly leading to serious birth injuries.

Birth injury attorneys are working on cases that involve the life-long suffering that occurs after serious birth trauma.

According to 2006 statistics, an average of 1 in 3 pregnant women delivered their children through cesarean sections. This is compared to the 1 in 5 women who delivered through c-section a decade ago.

There are conflicting arguments that both support and oppose an increase in c-sections. Supporters site the decrease in possible birth defects and birth injuries that can result from vaginal deliveries. Birth injuries can result in life-long disability such as cerebral palsy or death of the infant or mother.

Those who oppose an increase in c-sections say that the recovery time is extended and that c-sections increase risks during subsequent pregnancies, such as uterine rupture and placenta previa.

One major cause of the increase in c-sections is rising medical malpractice insurance. Doctor’s may pay over $100,000 a year for medical malpractice insurance. This number can rise dramatically if the doctor is sued for birth injuries, regardless of whether or not the doctor is found liable.

The risk of medical malpractice suits drops dramatically if there is no delivery.

Birth injury attorneys are currently working on cases in which life-long disability has resulted from medical malpractice.