When a baby does not get enough oxygen to the brain before, during, or after delivery, hypoxia can occur, which can lead to a more serious brain injury. Read on to learn more about hypoxic birth injuries.
Hypoxic Birth Injury
If a hypoxic birth injury is improperly treated or is left untreated, it is possible for a permanent disorder to develop, such as:
- Cerebral palsy
- Cognitive deficiencies
- Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
It is important to keep in mind that most of the time, hypoxia may not always cause permanent damage. However, moderate or severe hypoxia significantly raises the risk of a lifetime disability.
When it comes to hypoxia, serious injuries are almost always preventable. The significant recent advancements in identifying and treating hypoxia have made it much easier for physicians to avoid hypoxic birth injuries.
Reasons Why Hypoxic Birth Injuries Occur
Most of the time, medical professionals provide treatment with the proper standards in mind and uphold the expected duty of care. However, sometimes care falls short and patients are harmed as a result.
Injuries and trauma during birth can often be too common of an occurrence. When a doctor or nurse makes a medical mistake before, during, or after labor, the following are some of the potential risk factors for hypoxic birth injuries:
- Infection
- Umbilical cord injuries
- Umbilical cord prolapse
- Umbilical cord compression near baby
- Oxygen deprivation
- Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
- Anoxia
- Shoulder dystocia
- Resuscitation errors
- Placental insufficiency
- Placental abruption
- Cardiovascular collapse
- Forceps delivery injury
- Vacuum extraction injury
- Preeclampsia
We’re Here to Help
If your child has sustained a hypoxic birth injury as a result of medical negligence, it is critical to hold the responsible parties accountable for their wrongdoing. Don’t delay—reach out to our team right away to learn more about how we can help with your case.
If a medical professional caused your injuries and you need help with a medical malpractice lawsuit, contact the skilled attorneys at Berthold Law Firm, PLLC with the details of your case by calling (304) 605-2040 or by filling out our online contact form.