Fetal Hypoxia
Fetal hypoxia (also known as intrauterine hypoxia, fetal distress or oxygen deprivation) can occur for a variety of reasons during the labor and delivery process. It can be due to prolonged labor or interference with the fetus’s oxygen supply caused by the umbilical cord. If your unborn child does not receive enough oxygen, serious complications can occur, including significant brain injury or cerebral palsy.
In order to prevent these injuries from happening, obstetricians and nurses generally monitor the fetus with special medical equipment to check on the baby’s vital signs. Indicators of fetal distress include changes in the baby’s heart rate or breathing. If the fetus is in extreme distress, measures will then be taken such as performing an emergency Cesarean section.
If a medical practitioner fails to provide a reasonable standard of care to mother or child, medical malpractice may have occurred. For more information about birth injuries and your rights as a victim, contact a Philadelphia birth injury lawyer of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 215-238-1130 today.
Potential Causes
Some causes of fetal hypoxia include the following:
- Smoking while pregnant
- Cord prolapse
- Cord occlusion
- Placental infarction
- Prolonged labor
- Breech delivery
- Placental abruption
- Maternal sedation with premature babies
- Complications due to Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS)
When a fetus is deprived of oxygen, one possible result is perinatal brain damage. This can manifest itself in various ways including injuries to the central nervous system, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), or other neurological disorders, such as epilepsy.
Contact Us
If you or someone you love experienced the birth injury of fetal hypoxia and believe a negligent healthcare practitioner is to blame, contact a Philadelphia birth injury attorney of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 215-238-1130 today.