Jump to Navigation

Pregnancy Do's and Don'ts

Your choice of attorney to represent your interests during a birth injury case could mean the difference between successful negotiations or expensive, ongoing litigation. Please contact our firm today to schedule a consultation with a personal injury attorney who can provide a clear explanation of your legal rights and options.

Brachial Plexus Damage Attorney

Cerebral palsy, brachial plexus, Erb's palsy and other birth injuries can affect your child for life. If these birth injuries were the result of medical negligence, an appropriate financial settlement can help you secure the services your child will need to reach his or her full potential. Whether you need answers about how a birth injury occurred, or you need skillful legal help in a medical malpractice case, contact the Phoenix birth injury lawyers at Knapp & Roberts.

Thank you for contacting Knapp & Roberts. Your message has been sent.

Call us now

or use the form below.

From our offices in Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona, we represent families of children injured at birth in Maricopa, Pinal, Coconino, Yuma and Gila Counties.

Contact our Scottsdale or Phoenix medical malpractice law firm online or call us at 480-991-7677 (toll free at 800-541-4477). In all birth injury cases, there are no out-of pocket costs to our clients. We assume all the financial risk and are paid ONLY if we win your case.

Pregnancy Do's and Don'ts

Not all birth injuries or defects can be prevented, but a mother has some power to increase her chance of having a healthy baby. Many birth defects happen very early in pregnancy, sometimes before a woman even knows she is pregnant. If your child was injured at birth, consult an attorney to learn about your rights to compensation. A lawyer experienced in birth injury litigation, like those at Knapp & Roberts in Scottsdale, AZ, can explain your available legal remedies.

Do…

  • Get plenty of sleep.
  • Eat healthy. Make sure to get all necessary vitamins and minerals, including folic acid. Do not skip meals, especially breakfast, and increase the amount of calcium and protein in your diet for you and your baby.
  • Limit caffeine intake. Caffeine has been linked to miscarriages and should be eliminated from your diet during pregnancy.
  • Minimize stress. If you are stressed out, you are likely to eat poorly and not get enough sleep. You may want to take up yoga or get a full-body massage to help you destress.
  • Wear a seatbelt. Car accidents are a major contributor to miscarriage and injury to the fetus. Wear your seatbelt at all times.
  • Exercise. If you exercised before you were pregnant, keep doing it at a more moderate pace. It can make labor and delivery easier on you and your baby. If you never exercised before, consult your doctor to learn which types of exercise are best suited for your pregnancy.
  • Be cautious with medicine. Check with your doctor before taking any medications, even over-the-counter medicine.
  • Gain a healthy amount of weight. Most women gain between 25 and 30 pounds during pregnancy. Now isn't the time to deprive yourself of food or skip meals. But don't use your pregnancy as an excuse to overeat. During the second trimester, women need to consume about 350 more calories per day. During the last trimester, around 450 more.
  • Be wary of food-born illnesses. Wash all fruits and veggies and take extra precautions when handing raw meat and eggs. A woman's immune system is suppressed during pregnancy, so make every effort to protect you and your baby from food-born illnesses like salmonella.
  • Ask questions. Ask your doctor any and all questions that you may have during your pregnancy.

Don't…

  • Eat fish with high mercury levels, like tuna, swordfish and shark. The FDA recommends no more than 2 servings of fish and shellfish that are low in mercury per week for pregnant and nursing mothers.
  • Drink, smoke or take illegal drugs. Not only are they harmful for you, but they are extremely harmful to your child and can lead to premature birth, low birth weight, miscarriage, fetal alcohol syndrome, drug addiction and birth defects.
  • Consume unpasteurized milk or milk products, including soft cheeses like Brie. The pasteurization process kills listeria, an organism that can cause premature birth, miscarriage and illness.
  • Participate in activities that could lead to a fall such as skiing, rock climbing or snowboarding. Falls during pregnancy can harm the baby and cause miscarriage.
  • Take very hot baths or soak in a hot tub or sauna. You want to keep a moderate body temperature during pregnancy and not over-heat. This also includes during exercise. You should keep your fluid levels up by drinking lots of water.
  • Change or clean the cat litter box. Cats carry a disease called toxoplasmosis that can be dangerous to a fetus. Have someone else clean out the litter box while you are pregnant.
  • Avoid toxic cleaners and substances around the house. This includes paint, paint strippers, solvents, bleach, aerosol cans and toxic cleaners like oven cleaners. They can cause birth defects.

These are only general guidelines. Every pregnancy is not the same. If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, it is important to discuss what is right for you with your doctor.

Conclusion

Contact Knapp & Roberts in Scottsdale, AZ if you have questions about filing a birth injury lawsuit. An experienced attorney can help you understand your options and make the best decision for you and your family.

Copyright © 2012 FindLaw, a Thomson Reuters business

DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent legal counsel for advice on any legal matter.

Back to Main

Do I Have a Case?

Bold labels are required.

Contact Information
disclaimer.

The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form.

close

Privacy Policy

Success Stories

Some of Knapp & Roberts winning verdicts and settlements are listed below.
Click here to view more.

  • Cervical Cancer / Wrongful Death
    $2.5 Million – Settlement
  • Heart Attack/Wrongful Death
    $900,000 - Settlement
  • Assisted Living Facility / Resident Neglect & Wrongful Death
    $11 Million - Jury Verdict
  • Group Home/Wrongful Death
    $45.5 Million - Jury Verdict
  • Nursing Home/Diabetic Shock Death
    $1 Million - Settlement
  • Nursing Home/Resident Neglect
    $3.5 Million - Settlement
  • Super Lawyers
    Addition to the annual Super Lawyers list is based on peer nominations and professional achievement. The number of attorneys on any state's list of Super Lawyers is limited to no more than 5 percent of the total number of lawyers in one state. At Knapp & Roberts, Attorney Craig A. Knapp was named to the 2011 list of Southwest Super Lawyers for representing personal injury victims.

  • American Association for Justice

    American Association for Justice
    For over 65 years, members of the American Association for Justice have stood up as the voice for individuals and families injured by the bad acts or negligence of others.

  • American Association for Justice Leaders Forum

    American Association for Justice Leaders Forum
    Firms who make up the Leaders Forum of the American Association for Justice defend the civil justice system, ensuring that injury victims throughout the country have the right to hold at-fault parties responsible for the lifelong and sometimes fatal consequences of their actions.

  • Public Justice

    Public Justice
    As America's Public Interest Law Firm, Public Justice is comprised of over 3,000 top-notch attorneys from across the country that protect consumers, workers, civil rights, access to justice, the environment and public health and safety through the court system.

  • Distinguished AV | LexisNexis | Martindale-Hubbell | Peer Review Rated | For Ethical Standards and Legal Ability

    Peer Review Rated
    The Martindale-Hubbell® RATINGS Peer Review RatingsTM are an objective indicator of a lawyer's high ethical standards and professional ability. Attorneys receive a Peer Review RatingsTM based on evaluations by other members of the bar and the judiciary in the United States and Canada.

  • AzTLA | Arizona Trial Lawyers Association

    Arizona Trial Lawyers Association
    The Arizona Association for Justice, formerly the AzTLA, protects the right to a jury trial for people injured in Arizona and fights big corporations and insurance companies that try to chip away at the rights of the injured.

  • Million Dollar Advocates Forum

    Million Dollar Advocates Forum
    Fewer than 1 percent of U.S. lawyers are members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, considered to be a list of the top trial lawyers in the country. Members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum have successfully earned million dollar-plus verdicts and/or settlements on behalf of their injured clients.

Scottsdale Office Gainey Ranch

Knapp & Roberts
8777 North Gainey Center Drive,
Suite 165

Scottsdale, AZ 85258

Telephone: 480-991-7677
E-mail Us | Scottsdale Law Office

Phoenix Office Downtown Phoenix

Knapp & Roberts
850 N. 2nd Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85003

Telephone: 480-991-7677
E-mail Us | Phoenix Law Office

Our Service Areas
From offices in Phoenix and Scottsdale, the law firm of Knapp & Roberts handles medical malpractice cases in Maricopa County, Pinal County, Coconino County, Yuma County, and Gila County, including the communities of  Tempe, Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, Apache Junction, Peoria, Flagstaff, Mesa, Queen Creek, Goodyear, Glendale, Surprise, Tucson and Yuma.

Privacy Policy | Business Development Solutions by FindLaw, a Thomson Reuters business.