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Michigan’s Premier Birth Injury Lawyers
Intrauterine Growth Restriction is a condition where a fetus doesn’t grow to its expected size during pregnancy. The baby measures smaller than expected for the number of weeks of pregnancy (gestational age). IUGR babies typically have a birth weight below the 10th percentile for their gestational age.
Signs and symptoms of IUGR can include:
During Pregnancy
- Fundal height (measurement of uterus) is smaller than expected for gestational age
- Ultrasound shows fetus measures small at important dates
- Decreased fetal movement is reported by mother
- Poor blood flow through umbilical cord or placenta
- Low amniotic fluid levels
- Maternal weight gain is less than expected
At Birth
- Low birth weight for gestational age
- Thin, pale, loose, dry skin
- Decreased muscle mass and body fat
- Thin umbilical cord (may appear dull instead of shiny)
- Meconium-stained skin or umbilical cord (greenish staining)
- Wide skull sutures with large fontanelles
After Birth
- Difficulty maintaining body temperature
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Low oxygen levels
- Difficulty feeding
- Decreased Apgar scores, which is a quick, standard test for newborns at one and five minutes after birth, assessing Appearance (color), Pulse (heart rate), Grimace (reflex response), Activity (muscle tone), and Respiration (breathing).
Causes of Intrauterine Growth Restriction Injuries
There can be a range of causes for IGR, including anything from failure of doctors and medical professionals to diagnose the condition early to problems with the mother’s health. Often, symptoms are overlooked, or treatment is inadequate, leading to legal claims.
Some causes of IUGR-related injuries can include:
Inadequate Prenatal Care Issues
- Failure by doctors to detect maternal risk factors
- Missed or delayed diagnosis of IUGR
- Inadequate monitoring of high-risk pregnancies
- Failure to perform appropriate ultrasounds or growth assessments
- Not addressing maternal malnutrition or substance abuse
Maternal Factors
- High blood pressure or preeclampsia (most common)
- Chronic kidney disease
- Advanced diabetes
- Heart or respiratory disease
- Malnutrition or severe anemia
- Infections (toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, syphilis)
- Substance abuse (alcohol, drugs, smoking)
- Certain medications
- Advanced maternal age
Placental Problems
- Placental insufficiency (placenta not delivering adequate oxygen/nutrients)
- Partial placental abruption
- Placenta previa
- Abnormal placental attachment
Fetal Factors
- Chromosomal abnormalities (Down syndrome, Turner syndrome)
- Multiple gestations (twins, triplets)
- Congenital infections
- Birth defects affecting growth
- Genetic disorders
Intrauterine Growth Restriction increases risks for stillbirth, oxygen deprivation during labor, cesarean delivery, and long-term developmental issues. Close monitoring and timely delivery by doctors are essential for managing IUGR pregnancies.
If you believe your infant was injured due to a medical professional’s negligence, contacting a skilled and experienced lawyer at Fieger Law is the first step in understanding your legal rights.
Detroit-Area Hospital Systems with IUGR/High-Risk Pregnancy Care
Location: Midtown Detroit
Specialty: Premier maternal-fetal medicine center with comprehensive IUGR care.
- Maternal Special Care Unit (only one in tri-county area for pregnant women needing advanced care)
- Maternal-fetal medicine specialists on staff
- Intrauterine fetal surgery and fetal transfusions (one of few hospitals nationally)
- Advanced ultrasound imaging and monitoring
- FIRST Trimester Screening for chromosomal abnormalities
- High-risk amniocentesis
- Partnership with Children’s Hospital of Michigan for neonatal care
- S. News & World Report ranked in obstetrics and gynecology
Additional DMC Birthing Centers:
- Harris Birthing Center at Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital (Commerce Township)
- Sinai-Grace Hospital Birthing Center (Northwest Detroit)
Location: Ann Arbor (Metro Detroit area)
- Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment Center
- Level IV NICU located within birth center
- Specialty clinics: cardio-obstetrics, metabolic health, psychiatry integration
- Minimally invasive fetal interventions
- Comprehensive high-risk pregnancy management
- Cutting-edge research in fetal anomalies
- Birth center integrated with children’s hospital
Location: Multiple locations across Metro Detroit
- Maternal-fetal medicine specialists with advanced training
- Advanced prenatal diagnostic studies
- Treatment planning for pregnancy complications
- Home-like birthing centers
- Comprehensive high-risk pregnancy care
Location: Multiple sites in Southeast Michigan, delivery at Hutzel Women’s Hospital
- Partnership with Children’s Hospital of Michigan Fetal Care Center
- Academic medical center with research focus
- Access to clinical trials and latest treatments
- Multidisciplinary team approach
- Services at DMC Hutzel, Children’s Hospital, and multiple outreach locations
Proving Medical Negligence in an Intrauterine Growth Restriction Injury Case
Proving negligence requires your attorney to research and examine all evidence and build a strong medical negligence case on your behalf. Some of the key elements needed include:
- Proof of Deviation from Standard Practices: Establishing that the doctor’s actions fell below accepted medical standards
- Expert Testimony and Medical Records: Using medical data and tests, as well as expert testimony, showing the injury was likely due to a deviation from accepted medical practices
Medical records, including imaging and exam results, treatment notations, and delivery records, can provide valuable documentation of the injury and its potential causes. Expert medical testimony from qualified and experienced professionals can also be persuasive in showing that the level of care was inadequate and that the healthcare provider deviated from medical standards, leading to the injury.
Detroit-Region Lawsuits Involving Birth Injuries
The city of Detroit and the state of Michigan have seen their share of birth-injury lawsuits caused by medical malpractice. While not all from IUGR, such legal cases demonstrate the prevalence of birth injuries due to medical negligence.
Some notable cases include:
- A Detroit mother and son won a $129 million verdict for birth trauma. A jury in Wayne County, Michigan, found in favor of the mother and son in a four-week trial over the brain damage he suffered at birth. It found against Henry Ford Health Systems because of the infant’s birth injuries, resulting in lifelong medical complications.
- A family won $31 million to provide healthcare for a brain-damaged child in a birth injury case. The case involved the infant’s birth at a hospital within the University of Michigan Health System.
- There was a $9 million settlement in a case where the mother showed abnormal tests at the hospital, which required that she be admitted and delivered. Instead, she was sent home.
Detroit Support Groups and Resources for Parents
There are several support groups and services in Metro Detroit for parents and families of infants with birth injuries and infants who died. Some of these include:
- Detroit March of Dimes
Website: org to use their contact form.
- Select your ZIP code (Detroit area) to be directed to local resources.
- Inquire about a NICU Family Support Program in Detroit.
- Detroit Perinatal Wellness Coalition
Website: detroitperinatalwellness.org
- Share Your Pregnancy and Infant Loss – Detroit Chapter
Website: nationalshare.org
- Mothering Justice
Website: motheringjustice.org
- Metro Detroit Share
Website: metrodetroitshare.org
Parents and family members can find support, information, and counseling through these Detroit-area organizations if their infant has suffered birth injuries or died due to birth complications.
The Intrauterine Growth Restriction Attorneys at Fieger Law Care About Detroit Parents
At Fieger Law, our legal team cares about clients and their families. We treat every client with dignity, respect, and concern because we know they are going through a very difficult time. Our IUGR injury lawyers put their skills and experience to work and fight for the justice our clients deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.
