*Nothing in this article should be construed as medical advice. Medical advice should only be sought from a licensed physician. If you are having a medical emergency, please call 9-1-1.
If your baby is sick with an illness like NEC, you want the very best medical staff treating them. Finding a doctor you trust or a hospital that fits your needs and will offer the best care available to your infant can be difficult at best. Perhaps you already have an obstetrician or pediatrician that you trust implicitly. If you are lucky enough to have a trusted doctor and/or hospital then you can rest easy knowing your baby will be well taken care of during this difficult time. If you are struggling to find a doctor or hospital, consider the following tips and resources:
- First, you will want to check your health insurance plan to see whether there is a pre-approved list of medical providers. Since NEC treatments can be a financial drain, even on those with good health insurance, it is essential that you choose an in-network provider so your insurance will pay.
- You may also search for medical providers in your area in local online directories.
- Don’t discount referrals from friends, family members, or co-workers. If someone you know and trust had a loved one who spent time in a hospital or underwent a surgical procedure, they may be able to tell you which medical providers are great—and which you should avoid.
- The National Library of Medicine has a checklist regarding what to look for when you are choosing a physician.
- If you are not insured or are on Medicaid you can often get help from your local Medicaid office or from a health care center or community clinic nearby to help you find the best doctor for your baby’s NEC illness.
What is NEC? Necrotizing enterocolitis is an illness seen primarily among premature infants, usually within 2-6 weeks after birth. It is believed that when premature infants are fed cow’s milk-based formula (usually because breast milk is unavailable or as a supplement to breast milk to help a preemie gain weight) can develop necrotizing enterocolitis which is, essentially, the death of intestinal tissues. Premature infants have an immature digestive system which may make them more susceptible to inflammation and infection in the gut.
Full-term babies rarely ever get NEC and when they do, they likely had another illness or low body weight for their gestational age. NEC symptoms include: red, tender, or distended stomach, lethargy, body temperature changes, blood pressure and heart rate abnormalities, breathing changes or difficulties, yellow or green vomit, and diarrhea with bloody stool.
If there is a perforation in the intestinal wall or intestinal tissues have died, surgical intervention is likely necessary. As many as 72 percent of parents of NEC babies report long-term complications, usually digestive complications. Short bowel syndrome, the necessity for a long-term feeding tube, respiratory issues, neurodevelopmental delays, and malabsorption.
Although it would likely be your obstetrician or pediatrician that discovers and diagnoses your baby’s NEC, if surgery is recommended, a surgical gastroenterologist would likely perform the surgery. After the diagnosis, a pediatric gastroenterologist would probably continue to care for your baby.
Is filing an NEC Baby Formula Lawsuit Right for You? Parents across the United States are currently filing Similac and Enfamil lawsuits after their babies were given a cow’s milk-based formula which may have triggered necrotizing enterocolitis. Not only will these lawsuits help parents pay for the expensive medical treatments needed for their babies, but they will also ensure that the manufacturers of these baby formulas are required to warn parents of the potential risks. Contact an experienced NEC baby formula lawsuit attorney from Sullo & Sullo today to have all your questions answered.