Virginia has a state run program called Birth-related Neurological Compensation Fund which supplies the children and families affected by birth trauma with the money necessary to pay for the lifetime of needed medical and home care. Unfortunately, this program is seriously lacking the funds necessary to keep up with the need.

According to an audit released on May 13th, the twenty year old program is short the $127.6 million needed to maintain the lifetime care needed by the infants who have entered the program.

The state run program was the first of its kind in the United States. Florida is the only other state to utilize a similar program.

The lack of money in the fund is due to underestimated financial projections of the needed child care. This clearly demonstrates the serious financial toll that birth trauma can have on families.

Birth trauma attorneys are working to hold negligent parties responsible in order to prevent the devastation of birth injuries from occurring.

A new study released on May 7th by the Auckland City Hospital in New Zealand demonstrates that the common prescription diabetes drug metformin is just as effective in treating gestational diabetes as insulin alone.

The 363 women who received metformin during the course of the study experienced the same side effects as the 370 women who received insulin injections.

Of the women who received metformin, 77 percent said that they would continue to use the drug if they had developed gestational diabetes in another pregnancy.  Of those 77 percent, about 46 needed additional supplemental insulin at some point during the pregnancy.

Of the women who received only insulin shots, 27 percent said that they would continue to use only insulin if they developed subsequent gestational diabetes.

Despite the positive results of this study, the researchers assert that more research needs to be done in order to fully understand the possible side effects of metformin. Doctors need to treat their patients with caution.

Gestational diabetes is a serious condition that affects 20 percent of pregnant women. It can result in serious risks to both the baby and the mother. If not treated properly, gestational diabetes can result in premature labor and birth injuries, which can develop into serious disabilities as the baby grows.

Birth injury attorneys are working on cases in which children have developed cerebral palsy and other serious conditions due to medical negligence.

A new study that was presented at the annual American Psychiatric Association meeting links antidepressants with pregnancy related risks including premature birth and birth defects.

The antidepressants that are known to cause serious risks include a specific class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These types of antidepressants include Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa and Laxapro. SSRIs work by controlling serotonin levels in the brain through affecting a chemical neurotransmitter.

The new study focused on 200 pregnant women, with half suffering from depression. Half of the women that suffer from depression took SSRIs throughout their pregnancies. Of the women who took SSRI’s, about 23 percent gave birth prematurely. Of the women that did not have depression, only 6 percent gave birth prematurely.

Premature birth can lead to serious birth injuries that can result in permanent disability such as cerebral palsy.

Preterm birth is not the only major risk associated with SSRIs. The Food and Drug Administration has issued repeated warnings about Paxil’s use during pregnancy, citing the high risk of heart related birth defects. In addition, withdrawal symptoms have been noticed in babies who are born to mother’s taking SSRI’s during the third trimester.

Birth defect attorneys are working on cases in which serious injury has resulted due to the negligence of a doctor or medical staff.