Every breath we take from birth provides our entire body with necessary oxygen. Lack of sufficient oxygen, especially for a newborn infant, can result in serious medical conditions. A baby who doesn’t get enough oxygen during the birthing process can end up with serious physical and developmental medical conditions. This can seriously impact both the child’s life and the lives of his or her loved ones.
What Is Hypoxia or a Deprivation of Oxygen?
There is a small window during the birthing process that the baby switches from breathing via the umbilical cord to breathing oxygen on his or her own. When this critical transition is delayed, the baby can suffer serious medical conditions resulting from oxygen deprivation. Lack of sufficient oxygen in the womb or during the birthing process is medically referred to as hypoxia.
There are four major categories associated with hypoxia:
- Cerebral hypoxia
- Focal cerebral ischemia
- Cerebral infarction
- Global cerebral ischemia
Symptoms of Hypoxia Birth Injuries
There are two stages of hypoxia happens. The first stage happens right after the baby is deprived of oxygen. At this stage, the baby may immediately start to show signs of oxygen deprivation. The second stage is known as “reperfusion injury.” This stage happens when the baby’s blood flow starts to return to the brain and the damaged cells start to release toxins.
Common symptoms of fetal birth hypoxia include:
- Low or lack of heart rate
- Slow, shallow, or irregular breathing
- Lack of breathing
- Seizures
- “Floppy” muscles that have little or no tone
- Blue or very pale skin tone
- Slow or lack of reflexes
- Apgar score of less than three, especially if it lasts more than five minutes
If your infant shows any of the symptoms above immediately after or shortly after birth, you may have a valid medical malpractice claim.
Common Causes of Fetal Hypoxia Birth Injuries
Oxygen deprivation during the birthing process can happen in different ways. A list of common labor room causes of hypoxia birth injuries include:
- Delay in performing a cesarean section
- Physical trauma during labor and delivery including the use of forceps or a vacuum extractor
- Getting stuck in the birth canal
- Excessive extraction
- Dropped glucose levels
- Untreated jaundice
Many of these problems are preventable if the physicians carefully and quickly monitor and treat the baby. As a parent, it is important for you to know that many hypoxia birth injuries could have been avoided with proper medical care.
Call an Experienced NYC Cesarean Delivery Injury Attorney Today!
At Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C., we understand how devastating it is for parents when a newborn has suffered serious brain injuries at birth. While we understand that no amount of money can undo the harm caused, it can bring a sense of justice and financial stability to help pay for your child’s medical care and treatment.
If you suspect your infant’s brain injuries were caused by medical negligence, please call us at 1-800-529-9997 for a free consultation to discuss the details of your case.
