Labor and delivery can be a difficult process for a woman, even when there are no complications in the birth. When problems arise, however, a Florida mother-to-be may lean heavily on her doctor and medical team to support her and her baby through the birthing process. Their medical training and knowledge puts them in a strong position to help and heal any medical needs that may complicate the birth of a baby.
Unfortunately, not all medical practitioners take note of or act on the complications that affect pregnant and laboring mothers-to-be. When doctors and nurses fail in their duties of care to their pregnant patients, the unborn babies carried by those patients may suffer. One serious complication that can harm babies before, during, and after their births is hypoxia. This informational post provides no legal or medical advice on the topic but offers a discussion of hypoxia at birth may be a compensable injury under personal injury law.
What is hypoxia?
Hypoxia is a serious medical problem that develops when the brain is deprived of oxygen. During labor and delivery, this can happen to a baby in a number of ways. Some of the ways that hypoxia can develop during the birthing process include:
- Infections
- Injuries to the placenta or umbilical cord
- Blood vessel problems
- Congenital diseases
- Cardiovascular collapse
Any of these issues is serious on its own to the health of a mother and her unborn child. When the cause a baby to lose oxygen access, they can leave the child with permanent and disabling losses.
Steps to prevent and mitigate hypoxia
Some of the issues that can cause hypoxia during birth should be discoverable by the medical practitioners who care for expectant mothers. When doctors evaluate and take note of their patients’ conditions, they can anticipate and plan to treat complications as they arise. Doctors who ignore complication warning signs may be unprepared to treat hypoxia-causing problems during birth.
However, as readers know, not all birth complications are expected or preventable. When a complication happens, a medical practitioner should be ready to mitigate the effects of hypoxia and other disorders through swift and effective action. A doctor who delays treatment for birth-related injuries may be negligent in their administration of care.
Hypoxia experienced at birth can be serious and cause life-long problems. No child should have to live with preventable losses due to medical negligence. Medical malpractice attorneys can help parents advocate for their children’s needs and fight for their damages in court.