Hypoxia Birth Injuries In Chicago
Has Your Child Suffered Brain Damage Due To Low Oxygen Levels?
Giving birth to a child is supposed to be one of life’s greatest moments. Most mothers remain healthy, going to the required doctor’s appointments and following the general guidelines to ensure a smooth labor. All a mother hopes for is a safe delivery and a healthy baby. However, complications can arise. It is the responsibility of the doctors and hospital staff to be preemptive and act quickly if a problem does occur during delivery. Failure to do so can cause lasting injuries and potentially death.
How Does Hypoxia Occur?
One of the greatest dangers a fetus faces during childbirth is hypoxia. Hypoxia, or a lack of oxygen to the body’s tissues, can be especially damaging to a fetus and newborn baby. Perinatal hypoxia — when the infant receives inadequate oxygen before, during, or after birth — can occur when birth complications cause the infant to stop breathing. In cases of mild hypoxia, babies can recover without any permanent disabilities. In cases of moderate to severe hypoxia, however, the potential for a permanent disability dramatically increases.
If your baby endured brain or tissue damage because of untreated hypoxia, you may have grounds for a lawsuit. Call our Chicago birth injury attorneys today at 312-500-1792.
Causes Of Hypoxia
It’s incredibly important for medical professionals to identify cases of hypoxia as soon as possible in order to mitigate the potential damage. The longer it goes untreated, the greater the risk to the infant. Potential factors that increase the risk of hypoxia include:
- Blood flow disorders that cause a lack of growth of the placenta
- Brain blood vessel abnormality
- Cardiovascular collapse
- Congenital heart disease
- Inadequate monitoring of the fetus
- Infection
- Maternal anemia
- Maternal smoking
- Placental abruption: when the lining of the placenta separates from the uterus
- Shoulder dystocia: when the infant’s shoulder gets trapped behind the mother’s pubic bone during the delivery
- Umbilical cord injuries
- Umbilical cord prolapse: when the umbilical cord exits the uterus before, or at the same time as the fetus
- Umbilical cord strangulation
Medical Conditions Associated With Hypoxia
According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), perinatal hypoxia and anoxia account for nearly one-third of all neonatal deaths. Cerebral anoxia is when the brain fails to receive any oxygen whatsoever. There are several severe medical conditions that are associated with cerebral hypoxia and anoxia including:
- Behavioral disorders
- Cerebral palsy
- Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
- Cognitive disorders
- Severe seizures
- Developmental delays
- Epilepsy
With prompt treatment and intervention of doctors and nurses during delivery, these conditions can be avoided. Although many medical professionals may believe that these complications are unavoidable, a careful review of the medical records can reveal whether a baby showed warning signs of a hypoxic or anoxic condition.
The Power Rogers Experience
You should not have to suffer because your physicians or doctors did not follow procedures and uphold their responsibility. If your baby has sustained injuries due to hypoxia, our experienced attorneys can help.
At Power Rogers, we fight to win. Our clients are our first priority and we will not rest until they receive the settlement or verdict they deserve. If your child has suffered injuries because of undiagnosed or untreated hypoxia, we can help. Our Chicago birth injury attorneys have extensive knowledge and experience in the field. We have handled high-value cases and have a track record of success, recovering over $5 billion since our firm’s founding. We believe that you should not have to suffer in vain. We work hard to get you the compensation and justice you are owed.
Call us today for a free case review and take the first steps for restitution.
