If your premature infant was given cow’s milk-based formula in the first weeks of life and suffered from the serious gastrointestinal disease of NEC, you may be entitled to legal compensation. The Harman Law Firm has experienced personal injury lawyers who understand how to successfully fight for victims who were harmed by defective products or drugs. Our Atlanta legal team is keenly aware of the increasing NEC lawsuits surrounding the manufacturers of cow’s milk baby formulas as a result of the serious harm and even death these formulas may have caused for consuming premature newborns.

What is NEC?

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a serious medical condition that primarily affects premature infants. It is characterized by inflammation and damage to the tissue in the intestine, which can lead to bowel perforation, sepsis, and other life-threatening complications.

The exact cause of NEC is not yet fully understood, but it is thought to result from a combination of factors, including a premature infant’s immature digestive and immune systems, intestinal ischemia (lack of blood flow to the intestine), and the presence of harmful bacteria in the intestine.

Premature babies are at a higher risk of developing NEC because their digestive and immune systems are not yet fully developed, making them more vulnerable to infection and inflammation. Other risk factors for NEC include a low birth weight, formula feeding (especially cow’s milk-based formula), and certain medical interventions, such as mechanical ventilation and antibiotic treatment.

Symptoms of NEC may include feeding intolerance, abdominal distension, bloody stools, and lethargy. Treatment for NEC typically involves stopping feedings, providing supportive care, and in some cases, surgical intervention to remove damaged tissue or repair bowel perforations.

Cow’s Milk-Based Formula Linked to NEC

At Harman Law Firm, we recognize the increasing evidence that suggests that feeding premature infants with cow’s milk-based formula may be associated with an increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

Cow’s milk-based formula contains proteins that can be difficult for premature infants to digest, leading to inflammation and other gastrointestinal issues. Additionally, cow’s milk-based formula may contain high levels of certain nutrients, such as calcium and phosphorus, which can disrupt the delicate balance of these nutrients in premature infants and increase the risk of NEC.

Healthcare providers and caregivers have ways to minimize the risk of NEC in premature infants, which can include using a specialized premature infant formula that is designed to be easier to digest and contains lower levels of certain nutrients or using human milk or donor milk as a substitute for formula.

Adverse Outcomes for Preterm Infants Supplemented with Cow’s Milk-Derived Fortifier

Your preterm infant may have only been supplemented with a cow’s milk formula. If so, you still have rights for legal representation from The Harman Law Firm in a NEC lawsuit. Preterm infants who are fed cow’s milk-derived fortifier instead of human milk-derived fortifier in the first weeks of life have been shown to have adverse outcomes, even if they had a base diet of only their mother’s own milk. Cow’s milk-derived fortifier is commonly used in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to provide additional nutrients to premature infants who are at risk of malnutrition. Research has shown that cow’s milk-derived fortifiers can lead to an increased risk of NEC, which can be fatal.

In contrast, human milk-derived fortifiers have been shown to be safer and better tolerated by premature infants. They are made from human milk and provide similar amounts of nutrients as cow’s milk-derived fortifiers without the added risk of adverse outcomes. Additionally, human milk contains unique components such as growth factors and immune-boosting factors that are not found in cow’s milk and can help protect premature infants from infection and other complications.

Baby Formulas Under Review

Enfamil and Similac are the leading formula manufacturers who are currently under close examination for their role in NEC in premature infants. While these formulas were created and marketed to resemble human breast milk using fortified cow’s milk, their tragic link to an increased risk in NEC is being revealed in lawsuits around the country.

The Harman Law Firm can represent families who have been impacted by the adverse effects of baby formulas, including the following formulas that possibly contributed to NEC and other gastrointestinal issues in newborns:

• Enfamil
• Similac
• Earth’s Best
• Happy Baby
• Go & Grow
• Gerber
• Parent’s Choice
• Baby’s Only
• Loulouka
• Holle
• Kendamil
• Bobbie
• Lebenswert

How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

As a personal injury lawyer who specializes in defective or dangerous products, the attorneys of Harman Law Firm are exceptionally qualified to handle your NEC case and Baby Formula Lawsuit.

We have represented hundreds of individuals who have been harmed by a defective or dangerous product. This can include baby formulas that may have caused NEC as well as other products that have been improperly designed, manufactured, labeled, or marketed.

In the case of a baby formula lawsuit, our role is to investigate the circumstances surrounding the harm, gather evidence, and build a case against the responsible party or parties, which include the baby formula manufacturers. This may involve working with experts in fields such as engineering, medicine, and product safety, as well as conducting depositions and other forms of discovery.

If you or someone you love is suffering or has suffered from NEC and received cow’s milk-based formula as a premature infant, we want to help you get the money you deserve at Harman Law Firm. NEC can be devastating and often result in significant medical bills, lost wages for caregivers, and pain and suffering. Our legal team is prepared to go against some of the most leading and prominent baby formula manufacturers in the country for the sake of your infant. We can help hold the responsible party or parties accountable for their actions and potentially prevent similar harm from occurring in the future.

Contact an Atlanta Baby Formula Attorney today for your NEC Lawsuit consultation at the Harman Law Firm.