What you need to know about baby formula lawsuits

The birth of a child is a happy moment for any parent. Parents need to trust that the products they buy for their children are going to keep their little ones safe and healthy. Baby formula is usually safe for most infants. There can sometimes be product recall for issues like insufficient iron or recalls involving baby formulas that have metal contaminants, but these recalls tend to be rare due to significant regulations involving infant formula. 

You should note that ingredients and contaminants are not the only dangers you need to be aware of when you have a newborn child. Parents of premature infants must know the dangers cow’s milk-based infant formula may cause to their babies. Today, many parents are in NEC lawsuits against Similac and Enfamil.  You can file a Baby formula lawsuit if you have a premature baby who was diagnosed with NEC after your baby was given the baby formula. This article discusses what you need to know about baby formula lawsuits. 

Baby formula lawsuit 

If your infant was diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) after they are potentially toxic baby formula, then you may be eligible for a baby formula lawsuit and can receive significant compensation. Some manufacturers are facing several toxic baby formula lawsuits because parents allege that wrongdoing and negligence exposed their infants to serious health risks.

You should note that there is evidence that suggests that some brands have potentially toxic baby formulas that can cause NEC which is a digestive health condition that can be fatal. Therefore, manufacturers of these baby formulas face lawsuits. This includes personal injury lawsuits which can be consolidated into multi-district litigation. Other lawsuits include Similac class action lawsuits and Enfamil class action lawsuits. For example, if you have an infant who consumed Enfamil or Similac baby formula and was later found with NEC, then you can qualify for a lawsuit against the manufacturer. 

Take note that Enfamil and Similac baby formulas are made specifically for premature infants. These babies are already at a higher risk for developing NEC. Cows’ milk-based baby formulas that can cause NEC include Enfamil, Similac, Bobbie, Baby’s Only, and Gerber.

As explained earlier, because Enfamil and Similac didn’t warn customers about the risks of NEC, any parent with a premature baby who was diagnosed with NEC after giving them the formula can file a lawsuit against these manufacturers. In such cases, you need to contact an attorney to help you to preserve the evidence required to prove the connection between your child’s illness and the baby formula. Quite often, babies are usually fed Enfamil or Similac in the hospital. Hence, if you are not sure what your infant received, then an attorney can assist you to find out. 

Understanding NEC in babies

Necrotizing enterocolitis is considered to be a serious gastrointestinal problem that tends to affect premature babies. This condition can inflame intestinal tissues, leading to death. NEC usually develops between two and six weeks after birth. Most of the infants who develop this condition are born prematurely, but NEC can affect almost 1 in every 1,000 premature babies.

No doubt, NEC is a heartbreaking health condition and outcomes tend to vary widely. Most infants that develop NEC can eventually recover, but some of them lose a lot of intestines, so they cannot survive. With babies that fail to recover fully but can live, there can be devastating long-term consequences. Sometimes, a baby can have intestinal blockage and obstruction, and the inability of the intestines to absorb nutrients properly. These lifelong effects are quite common in babies with NEC who lose huge parts of their intestines because of life-saving surgery. Also, NEC can expose babies at high risk for other potentially life-threatening conditions. 

It’s worth mentioning that cases of NEC in babies may range from mild to serious. Sometimes, babies with NEC can have an abdominal infection. NEC can cause a hole to develop in the intestinal wall, allowing bacteria to get into the abdominal cavity. This can lead to an infection known as peritonitis which may cause deadly blood infection.

A baby can also have short bowel syndrome which prevents the absorption of fluid and nutrients. Quite often, the affected baby may need lifelong care that can involve a feeding tube. A baby can also have intestinal stricture which is a narrowing of the intestines, making digestion difficult.

Even worse, a baby with NEC can have growth failure and developmental delays. NEC can contribute to the development of neurocognitive ability. This condition is quite common in babies with NEC who need surgery.

NEC symptoms can initially come and go for a couple of days. Sometimes, the symptoms can appear rapidly, meaning they can appear in babies who may look healthy and doing well. Some studies have indicated that NEC can develop within the first two weeks of a premature infant’s life who is consuming baby formula rather than breast milk.  

A doctor can diagnose a baby with NEC using various diagnostic tests. This includes blood tests, such as X-rays, and fecal tests. Blood tests can show a decrease in platelets which help form blood clots and a decrease in white blood cells. And, the loss of platelets in babies with NEC usually puts them at a higher risk of systemic infection and bleeding. 

X-rays can often find bubbles in the abdominal cavity. This can be a good sign of perforated or damaged bowels. Remember that air bubbles can also be detected in the veins that lead to the liver.

One of the first symptoms of NEC is usually the baby’s inability to accept feedings with baby formula. But you should note that symptoms of NEC can vary widely. Some of the symptoms include changes in blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, and body temperature. A baby with NEC can also have abdominal swelling and pain, yellow or green vomit, lethargy, diarrhea with bloody stool, and many more.

If you see any of these symptoms in your infant, you should take them to your doctor right away. The doctor can determine whether or not the symptoms are due to NEC. If this is the case, you need to contact an attorney right away for legal help.

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