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Necrotizing Enterocolitis Linked to Enfamil and Similac Infant Formula

Posted on August 23, 2024August 23, 2024 by Loni Liss

Studies show Necrotizing Enterocolitis afflicts premature babies who are fed “cow’s milk-based formula” like Enfamil and Similac. In most cases, baby or infant formula is a safe alternative to breastmilk for newborn babies as long as standard guidelines and feeding practices are used.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website hosts a comprehensive report on infant formulas that includes approved manufacturers and individual products. It also highlights the best practices for feeding formula to a baby.

However, one major issue, specifically regarding cow’s milk baby formula, is when a baby is born prematurely. Do not use cow’s milk baby formula to feed your preemie due to the risk of developing NEC.

Why Premature Infants Should Avoid Cow’s Milk Formula

According to most modern studies and evidence, premature babies should not be fed cow’s milk baby formula. Furthermore, a 2020 study by the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) National Library of Medicine found that even milk-based fortifiers in conjunction with a base breastmilk diet negatively impacted premature infants’ health.

The consensus and evidence regarding the use of cow’s milk baby formula on premature babies are pretty clear. It often results in the development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a severe and potentially deadly condition.

If your premature baby was diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), you may have a case if your baby was fed a cow’s milk formula. The experienced birth injury lawyers at The Yost Legal Group are here to help you and hold the manufacturers accountable for their negligence.

What are premature birth risks, and how can They be identified?

People frequently talk about human pregnancy in terms of months and say that it lasts about nine months. However, doctors and other medical professionals talk about human pregnancies in terms of weeks.

The average length of a full-term human pregnancy is 40 weeks, which is a little longer than just “nine months.” However, as long as the pregnancy lasts at least 37 weeks, it is still considered a “full-term pregnancy.”

Anything under 37 weeks is considered a “premature birth,” i.e., the baby is born too early. However, not all premature births are the same. The earlier the birth, the greater the health risk to the baby, outcomes that can be long-term, lifelong, or even fatal.

According to the Mayo Clinic, a newborn can be:

Late Preterm: born between 34 and 36 completed weeks of pregnancy
Moderately Preterm: born between 32 and 34 weeks of pregnancy
Very Preterm: born between 28 and 32 weeks of pregnancy
Extremely Preterm: born before 28 weeks of pregnancy

The Mayo Clinic does note, however, that “most premature births happen in the late-preterm stage.” The Cleveland Clinic states that about 10% of births in the United States are premature.

What are the Health Risks Associated with Premature Birth?

As mentioned, the earlier the birth in terms of the number of weeks completed, the higher the risk of health issues for the newborn. It is entirely possible that a late-preterm newborn is as healthy as any baby born after 37 weeks of gestation.

If health factors are present, symptoms can range from mild to serious. However, it is always advised to follow professional medical advice after premature birth, even if symptoms are not readily apparent or seem mild.

Symptoms of premature birth include, but are not limited to, the following:

Small-sized/underweight baby
Smaller/less-developed brain
Problems breathing
Problems feeding
Low body temperature
Newborn jaundice

What is Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)?

In a 2023 study, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) stated that “infant necrotizing enterocolitis is caused by bacterial invasion into the intestinal wall.”

When a baby is born prematurely, they have not had the full gestational period to develop safely in the womb.

Though the exact mechanism that causes the bacterial invasion that leads to NEC in premature babies has not yet been determined, the 2023 NLM study found that “gastrointestinal tract immaturity [in premature neonates] is believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis.”

An NEC preemie with NEC symptoms is frightening to new parents.

Additional studies, even ones dating back to 2011, have shown a link between premature babies fed with cow’s milk formula and the development of NEC.

Although it is possible for babies who are exclusively fed breast milk to develop neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis, the incident rate is much lower.

The Cleveland Clinic also supports this data with its findings that NEC affects 1 in 1,000 premature babies. In comparison, “the condition only rarely affects full-term infants,” about 1 in 10,000 full-term babies.

While it is possible to diagnose NEC disease clinically, doctors often require diagnostic imaging to determine the condition’s stage. Radiography is the most commonly used tool because it can show the intestines and areas affected by rogue bacteria.

There are three Bell’s stages of NEC:

Bell’s stage 1 (suspected disease)
Bell’s stage 2 (definite disease)
Bell’s stage 3 (advanced disease)

What are the Health Risks Associated with Necrotizing Enterocolitis?

NEC in preterm infants is a severe condition that affects the gastrointestinal tracts of premature babies, leading to bacterial infections of the intestinal wall.

If diagnosed and treated immediately, the effects of NEC preemie symptoms can be minimized. However, doctors can miss symptoms, leading to untreated NEC.

When untreated, bacteria that enter the gastrointestinal tract can cause severe infections that kill the intestinal tissue and cause bacterial leakage to other internal organs. Bell’s stage 3 means the presence of dead tissue or bowel perforations.

In the United States alone, NEC caused 355 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2013, and the mortality rate for Black Americans was three times higher than for the White population.

Symptoms of NEC include, but are not limited to, the following: (signs of necrotizing enterocolitis)

Abdominal swelling
Bloody stools
Green vomit
Poor feeding
Inability to gain weight
Organ failure
Death

If your baby was born premature and diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis after it was fed cow’s milk baby formula, there is no time to delay. Learn about filing an NEC lawsuit and get NEC lawsuit updates.

Call or text our experienced product liability lawyers today for a free consultation regarding your potential case. We must hold these companies accountable for their negligence and dangerous products. We are available at no cost to you at 410-659-6800.

Do you Qualify to File a Necrotizing Enterocolitis Lawsuit?

At The Yost Legal Group, we understand the sensitivity of this subject. We are talking about children’s health, life, and wellbeing—and not just any children, but your children or grandchildren.

For years, we have pursued claims against Abbott Laboratories and Mead Johnson related to this NEC litigation, and the fight is just getting started.

It is time to hold these multinational, billion-dollar companies accountable for their negligence in developing and marketing dangerous products.

These products are being fed to newborn and premature babies and, in some instances, causing grave harm, if not death.

If NEC is not caught and treated in time, the damage done to the premature baby might never be fully healed. It could require a lifetime of care. And those affected deserve compensation.

Contact The Yost Legal Group, a wrongful death law firm.

Already, we are seeing cases go to court and settlements being reached. The manufacturers of cow’s milk formula fed to premature infants, leading to NEC, must be held accountable. The Yost Legal Group will continue to fight.

Call or text our experienced defective product lawyers today for a free consultation. We will discuss filing an NEC baby formula lawsuit or a Similac infant formula lawsuit, which will allow us to hold the manufacturers of these dangerous products accountable.

We will help you recover financial compensation for medical treatments, pain and suffering, and whatever your NEC newborn requires.

Contact a baby formula lawyer at 410-659-6800. There is no charge or fee unless you recover. We are here to help you get the justice you deserve.

Similac Lawsuit Settlement Amount – Toxic Baby Formula – Birth Injury Lawsuit – Enfamil Baby Formula Lawsuit

Birth Injury Lawsuit Settlements – Wrongful Death Lawsuit – Free Case Review

New York Times Finally Covers Hair Relaxer Litigation

Posted on June 26, 2024October 11, 2024 by Loni Liss

After 8,000 Hair Relaxer Lawsuits Filed, Mainstream Media Pay Attention to Cancer Risk

Earlier this month, on June 13, 2024, New York Times Magazine contributing writer Linda Villarosa published “The Disturbing Truth About Hair Relaxers.” Her expansive 6,300-word article was the ripe fruit born from over a year of research about hair relaxer lawsuits.

She interviewed dozens of scientists, government officials, legal experts, and, most importantly, hair relaxer users. Her findings, while shocking to some, were no surprise to us here at The Yost Legal Group.

We have been covering the hair relaxer litigation for two years. Unfortunately, we are all too familiar with the dangers, cancers, and deaths caused by chemical hair straighteners.

The sub-head continues: “They’ve been linked to reproductive disorders and cancers. Why are they still being marketed so aggressively to Black women?”

The easy answer is “Money.” Cosmetics companies like Avlon, L’Oréal, and Revlon have made hundreds of billions of dollars on the heads of Black women without any regard for the effects upon people’s lives.

Hair Straighteners Linked to Uterine Cancer in Black Women

Women who used hair straighteners (mostly Black) were 2.5 times more likely to develop uterine cancer. Black women are more than twice as likely to die from uterine cancer than other racial and ethnic groups studied in 2022 by The Journal of the American Medical Association Oncology.

All peer-reviewed studies we have seen show that chemical hair relaxers and straighteners are carcinogenic, yet cosmetics companies continue to market and sell them. It is time to hold them accountable.

Have you been diagnosed with endometrial cancer (not to be confused with endometriosis), non-serous ovarian cancer, or uterine cancer? Have you used chemical hair relaxers or chemical hair straighteners regularly for years? Contact The Yost Legal Group today at 410-659-6800.

Our lawyers for personal injury will help you understand your rights to file a hair relaxer lawsuit. If you used a dark and lovely relaxer and were diagnosed with any of these cancers, we can file a dark and lovely lawsuit on your behalf.

There is a direct connection between hair relaxers and cancer. Click here for hair relaxer lawsuit update information.

Urgent Warning for Black Women Using Hair Straighteners

If you have never used chemical hair relaxers or lived with someone who did, it might be easy to underestimate how prevalent they are among Black women.

According to a 2019 study published by the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology (and cited in Villarosa’s New York Times Magazine article), 89% of Black women studied reported having used chemical hair relaxers/straighteners at least once.

In 2011, the United States hair-relaxer market generated $71 million just from sales to salons and other professionals. That revenue dropped to $30 million by 2021. However, those figures do not account for the many products sold off-the-shelf directly to consumers.

If you have been diagnosed with uterine cancer and have used hair relaxers regularly, you should consider filing a product liability lawsuit. The toxic chemicals in chemical hair straightening products increase your risk of cancer.

Although the harmful chemicals in these products were known to be carcinogenic, manufacturers continued to use them in their hair products. Multiple studies show the risk of developing uterine cancer with prolonged use of hair straighteners or relaxer products.

Hold Cosmetics Companies Accountable for Carcinogenic Hair Products

Hair Relaxer Brands Linked to Reproductive-Organ Cancers:

· African Pride

· Avlon

· Bantu

· Carson

· Dark and Lovely

· Just for Me

· L’Oréal

· ORS Olive Oil

· Revlon

· Strength of Nature

Hair-straightening products have been on the market since the 1950s. In many families, brand loyalty has become a tradition. Mothers passed their products onto their daughters, who would eventually pass the products onto their own daughters, and so on and so forth.

Some women have decades of chemical hair relaxer use. The blatant disregard for the health and well-being of women of color by these manufacturers is evident. Now, a light is shining on the truth.

Higher Uterine Cancer Risk Linked to Hair Straightening Chemicals, NIH Study Reveals

A recent study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has found that women who use chemical hair straightening products face a higher risk of developing uterine cancer than those who do not use these products.

The research, which drew data from 33,497 U.S. women aged 35-74 participating in the Sister Study, highlighted an increased risk, particularly among Black women, who reportedly use these products more frequently.

According to the findings, women who used hair straighteners more than four times in the previous year were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer compared to those who did not use the products.

Notably, the study did not find any associations between uterine cancer and other hair products such as dyes, bleach, highlights, or perms.

Key Findings from the Study:

Women who never used hair straighteners had a 1.64% chance of developing uterine cancer by age 70.
Frequent users (more than four times a year) faced a risk that increased to 4.05%.
During nearly 11 years of follow-up, 378 uterine cancer cases were diagnosed among the participants.

Dr. Alexandra White, head of the NIEHS Environment and Cancer Epidemiology group and the study’s lead author, emphasized the significance of these findings. “This doubling rate is concerning. However, it is important to put this information into context—uterine cancer is a relatively rare type of cancer.”

Despite accounting for about 3% of all new cancer cases, uterine cancer remains the most common cancer of the female reproductive system, with an estimated 65,950 new cases in 2022.

Alarmingly, studies indicate that the incidence rates of uterine cancer have been rising in the United States, especially among Black women.

This study underscores the importance of further research and awareness about the potential risks associated with chemical hair straightening products, particularly within communities that use these products more frequently.

Holding Cosmetics Companies Accountable for Product Safety

As the awareness of the potential risks associated with chemical hair relaxers continues to grow, it is crucial for individuals, especially Black women, to educate themselves about the products they use.

Seeking alternative hair straightening methods that do not contain harmful chemicals can help reduce the risk of developing serious health issues. Additionally, holding cosmetics companies accountable for the safety of their products is essential in ensuring the well-being of consumers.

By staying informed and advocating for safer hair care options, individuals can protect themselves and their loved ones from the dangers linked to chemical hair relaxers.

This prevalence over many decades greatly explains the 8,000+ cases that people have filed so far. In the Hair Relaxers Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation (MDL-3060) in the United States Judicial Panel of Multidistrict Litigation docket.

The Hidden Dangers of Hair Relaxers for Black Women Exposed

It is nice to see a mainstream media organization like The New York Times finally give this cause the attention it deserves. Hair products that cause cancer should be removed from the market.

Black women have been suffering from preventable endometrial, non-serous ovarian, and uterine cancers likely caused by their chemical hair relaxers for far too long without proper recognition.

If you used chemical hair relaxers or chemical hair straighteners regularly and were diagnosed with endometrial cancer (not to be confused with endometriosis), non-serous ovarian cancer, or uterine cancer, call The Yost Legal Group.

We will file a hair relaxer lawsuit to seek financial compensation for you and your family. Our attorneys for personal injury will fight to seek a hair relaxer settlement.

Our experienced hair relaxer lawyers will work to help you get the justice you deserve. Call or text us at 410-659-6800 for a free consultation.

Baby Formula Linked to Increased Risk for NEC in Premature Infants

Posted on March 30, 2022March 30, 2022 by YostLaw

More and more parents across the country are filing suit against manufacturers of cow-milk formula designed for preterm infants. Studies have provided evidence that cow-milk formula has been linked to a condition called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature babies, the result of which can be deadly. Despite evidence of the risk posed by these products, they were still marketed as a safe, and even superior alternative to breast milk. As a result, many premature newborns developed NEC and have suffered serious injury and even death.

What is NEC?

Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) is a deadly bacterial infection that affects primarily premature newborn infants. This condition, caused by the inability of the infant to digest food properly, leads to inflamed intestinal tissue, which causes the tissue to die. This can lead to holes in the intestinal walls, which allows harmful bacteria from the intestines to leak into the abdominal cavity, which can rapidly cause a very dangerous infection of the blood stream called sepsis.

While NEC cases can range in severity, with some only causing mild discomfort, others can quickly turn deadly for a newborn. For newborns weighing less than 3 pounds 5 ounces the mortality rate for NEC can be 50% or more. Nearly 9 out of 10 infants diagnosed with NEC are premature.

What Causes NEC?

In 1990, a multi-center study was performed in which 926 pre-term newborns were observed. Of the 926 newborns, 51, or roughly 5.5% developed necrotizing enterocolitis. The mortality rate for those diagnosed with NEC was 26%. This study found that infants that were fed cow milk formula only were 6-10 times more likely to develop NEC. Infants fed a mixture of human milk and formula were 3 times more likely to develop NEC. Among infants born 30 weeks or later, NEC was exceedingly rare among infants whose diet included breast milk. It was 20 times more likely in those fed formula only.

Formula Manufacturers Failed to Warn Consumers

For over 30 years, it has been known that formula poses a threat of increasing a preterm newborn’s risk of developing NEC, yet brands such as Similac and Enfamil, which are known for their cow-milk based formulas, continue to be produced and marketed as intended specifically for pre-term infants. Furthermore, they have failed to provide any warning of the harm that cow-milk formula can cause to pre-term babies.

By failing to warn consumers of the risks posed by their product, Similac and other cow-milk based formula companies deprive parents and caregivers the ability to make informed health decisions on behalf of their premature child. By advertising their products as being specifically designed for premature infants, these companies falsely lead parents to believe that they are safe for their baby to consume, even going so far as to market their products as being safer for a preterm infant than breast milk! As a result, many families have been devastated by the onset of NEC in their newborns, leading to severe and even fatal consequences.

Call Now.

If your baby has been diagnosed with NEC, The Yost Legal Group is here to help you through this difficult time. No parent should be left uninformed of the risks these cow-milk based products pose to their preterm newborns by manufacturers they trust to provide safe formula for their child. Act today by calling us at 1 (800) YOST LAW (967-8529) to hold these manufacturers accountable.

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