During labor and delivery, the baby may not receive enough oxygen to the brain due to complications. This is known as hypoxia, and it can cause severe and permanent birth injuries. Hypoxia is often the result of medical malpractice, and it can be an unavoidable condition. If your child has suffered serious birth injuries due to medical negligence, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the medical provider. First, you would need to contact an experienced medical malpractice lawyer to review your case and fight for your legal rights.
What Causes Hypoxia in Babies?
The following could be the cause of hypoxia:
- Placental Abruption: The placenta may separate from the uterine wall, disrupting the oxygen flow to the baby.
- Umbilical Cord Problems: The umbilical cord can become wrapped around the baby’s neck or compressed, cutting off the flow of oxygen.
- Maternal Blood Pressure: The mother can develop high blood pressure during the pregnancy, reducing the amount of oxygen the baby receives.
- Prolonged Labor: An extended and difficult labor could place the baby under stress and lead to less oxygen.
- Uterine Rupture: Stress during childbirth can cause the uterus to rupture, placing the mother’s and baby’s life in danger.
Hypoxia can be an extremely dangerous condition. If the baby’s oxygen cut-off is anything more than momentary, they could suffer neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). This is a term for brain damage that is caused when the baby does not get enough oxygen. If the reduced oxygen flow to the baby lasts several minutes, it can result in irreversible brain damage. In some cases, HIE can be treated after birth, and some of the effects may be managed, but it is usually not a reversible condition.
Birth Injuries Caused By Hypoxia
HIE can cause the following birth injuries:
- Cerebral palsy
- Seizure disorders
- Developmental delays
- Learning disabilities
- In some cases, death
Hypoxia May Be the Result of Medical Negligence
In many cases, the doctor can recognize the risk of hypoxia even before the mother goes into labor. They should be aware of risk factors that can increase the chances of complications during labor and delivery. In some cases, the doctor should not even allow the mother to go into labor, instead scheduling a cesarean procedure to deliver the baby. If the mother is experiencing prolonged and difficult labor, reasonable medical practices often involve a C-section instead of allowing the mother to continue to attempt natural delivery. Both the mother and baby’s health could be on the line.
If your baby has suffered injuries from hypoxia, you may be able to file a medical malpractice lawsuit against the doctor who was responsible. While not every single birth injury is the result of medical malpractice, you may be able to demonstrate that the doctor should have taken action that could have prevented hypoxia. In that case, your family may be entitled to substantial financial compensation due to the irreversible harm that was done to your child’s life. You may be entitled to the following financial compensation in a birth injury lawsuit:
- Medical expenses
- Educational expenses
- Care expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress that the parents have endured
- Lost wages for the parents to care for the child
Contact the Silver Spring Birth Injury Lawyers at the Law Offices of Dr. Michael M. Wilson, M.D., J.D. & Associates
If your baby has been impacted by medical negligence in prenatal care or labor and delivery, reach out to the Silver Spring birth injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Dr. Michael M. Wilson, M.D., J.D. & Associates. You can schedule a free initial consultation with one of our medical malpractice attorneys by contacting us online or calling us today at 202-223-4488. Our office is in Washington, D.C., and we also serve clients in the surrounding areas, including Northern Maryland and Virginia.
