Fighting for Your Child’s Health: Overcoming NEC with Support and Action
Sam Uribe. Author
Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating gastrointestinal disease that affects the most vulnerable of many premature infants. This condition can cause infections, inflammation, and destruction of the intestinal tissue, making it the leading cause of infant death in the U.S. In this blog, we will discuss more about what you can do to help your child overcome NEC.
An estimated 5-10% of premature infants are affected by NEC in the U.S. The sooner they are treated with an appropriate diet and medication, the higher the chances for NEC survivors to live a more fulfilling and healthy life. Therefore, it is crucial for families to understand the steps they can take to help their children recover and grow healthy.
The Initial Treatment
The first step in treating NEC is to discontinue oral feedings and provide intravenous nutrition and fluids. The baby should also receive antibiotics to stop the infection, and their progress should be closely monitored with regular abdominal X-rays, blood tests, and other medical procedures as needed. And, in severe cases, surgery may be required to remove dead parts of the intestine.
What Diet Options Does My Baby Have After NEC?
In terms of diet, the best option for a baby’s recovery after NEC is breastfeeding. If not possible, human milk from a donor is a good alternative.
As the child grows, a balanced diet with water, electrolytes, and probiotics under medical supervision may help improve their gut health.
Overall, proper nutrition is an essential aspect of the recovery process and can help to improve the child’s quality of life in the long run.
There are many babies who survive NEC that unfortunately face long-term health and developmental problems, such as:
- Strictures
- Short gut syndrome
- Poor cognitive and motor skills
- Slower psychomotor development
However, with enough medical help and a supportive family network, babies with NEC can grow up with minimum accommodations and live a full life.
Compensation for Medical Negligence
If your child’s NEC was caused by medical negligence, you may be entitled to compensation.
Medical negligence that may have led to NEC includes:
- Delayed diagnosis
- Inappropriate treatment
- Failure to monitor the baby’s condition
Compensation for NEC cases caused by medical negligence can help cover the costs of medical treatment, ongoing care, and other related expenses. It can also provide financial support for families who may have suffered emotional distress and loss of income due to caring for a sick child.
In a medical malpractice lawsuit, families must prove that the healthcare provider failed to meet the standard of care that a reasonable healthcare provider would have provided under similar circumstances. This can involve gathering medical records, consulting with medical experts, and presenting evidence to support the claim of medical negligence.
To pursue compensation for NEC caused by medical negligence, families may need to consult with a medical malpractice attorney who has experience in handling similar cases.
While compensation cannot undo the harm caused by medical negligence, it can provide families with the financial resources they need to support their child’s recovery and move forward. It can also help to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future by holding healthcare providers accountable for their actions.
If your baby developed NEC after medical negligence, compensation may be available for your family to cover both past and future medical expenses, ongoing treatment your child needs, and your expenses as a parent such as loss of wages, childcare, and funeral expenses if the NEC lead to the death of your child.
At Birth Injury Guide we are here to help and offer FREE legal consultations. To learn more about your legal rights and options, complete the form on this page or call 877-415-6603 now.
Sources
https://necsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/NEC-Society-1-page-info-sheet-2.pdf
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15490026/
Sam Uribe is a researcher and writer. She lends her expertise to the team at Birth Injury Guide to provide up-to-date and relevant content that clients can count on.