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Hypoxia can be a preventable birth injury

On Behalf of | Jul 13, 2020 | Doctor Errors |

A healthy baby is a gift to new parents. While the birth process can be long and difficult, most children are born without serious complications or health emergencies. When challenges come up during the labor and delivery process for Lake Oswego parents, medical professionals should be prepared to address them in effective and timely ways.

However, when a doctor or member of a medical team fails to fully address the deteriorating condition of a laboring mother and her unborn child, the potential for tragedies increase. Mothers going through labor should be monitored, and when potential dangers arise for their babies, interventions can be implemented to protect the health and safety of the patients. One medical problem that can create catastrophic results for unborn children is hypoxia.

Hypoxia is a brain injury caused by the deprivation of oxygen. It can occur during or after labor and delivery. As prior articles on this blog have discussed, conditions like cerebral palsy and Erb’s palsy are related to this devastating medical situation.

There are many causes of hypoxia that doctors can identify, treat, or monitor in order to protect the health of mothers and babies. Damage or defects to the umbilical cord or placenta, heart and cardiovascular conditions, and blood vessel abnormalities may all contribute to cases of hypoxia. Shoulder dystocia, which happens when a baby is stuck in the birth canal due to the catch of its shoulder, may also lead to oxygen deprivation to the child’s brain.

Brain injuries are serious and can result in long-term disabilities for those who suffer from them. Cases of hypoxia that occur due to medical negligence during the labor and delivery processes may be compensable through civil litigation Those who are interested in learning more about this option can contact their Oregon-based personal injury and medical malpractice attorneys.

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