Medical Malpractice Expert

What is Fetal Distress and What Are The Ramifications?

Fetal Distress and its Effects

• An umbilical cord wrapping around the baby’s neck
• An umbilical cord that becomes flat on the cervix
• A prolapsed umbilical cord
• Hypoxia
• Infection of the uterine or placental tissue
• An oversized fetus
• The baby entering into breach position
• The uterus wall breaching
• The separation of the placenta from the wall of the uterus
• Misuse of Picotin, a labor inducing drug
• Improper use of forceps during delivery

A doctor, nurse nor nature can guarantee a perfect pregnancy or delivery. However, it is the responsibility of a doctor to monitor the health of the child along with the expectant mother. Ideally, the doctor does his best to look for signs of fetal distress. Fetal distress is any sign that the fetus is not doing well or is excessively fatigued. Toward the latter stages of pregnancy, the risk of fetal distress significantly increases; as doctors are aware of this fact, it is their obligation to be alert for any sign of fetal distress.

The doctor and mother will work together to watch for signs of increased blood pressure, symptoms of diabetes or any other infection, all of which will increase the risk of fetal distress occurring. Although doctors and humans are not perfect, your doctor should provide a reasonable degree of care that has been set by the medical industry.
Among the most important monitoring tools that your doctor will introduce to you will be the fetal heart rate monitor and the ultrasound system. Penn State Hershey states that the fetal heart rate monitoring system has the ability to “monitor the baby’s heartbeat in the uterus, including during labor.” This type of testing can be done internally or externally and can help to prevent birth injury.

Why is this test necessary?

The test is necessary so that a doctor can evaluate the fetal heart rate variability in between beats and how the heart beats compare to the uterine contractions. It can also be done to measure the frequency and the power of these uterine contractions. All of this information is important in determining how the baby is coping with the birth process. If the unborn child is not coping well then emergency treatment will be required. In most cases, the doctor will have to induce labor, either by performing a caesarean section or inducing natural birth in an urgent manor.

Fetal distress is certainly nothing to take lightly. Even short occurrences of fetal distress can cause problems with cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy and shoulder dystocia. The most damaging occurrences can result in brain damage.
The American Family Physician reviews some of these damaging conditions:

Shoulder Dystocia: Caused by the fetus getting its shoulder stuck during birth. In occurrences such as this if the baby fails to be delivered within five minutes, it can be fatal. Shoulder Dystocia can cause hemorrhaging in the mother or brachial plexus palsies in the future baby.

Erb’s Palsy: Caused by shoulder dystocia and disimpaction, this condition can cause partial paralysis of the brachial plexus or even full paralysis of the face and other vital parts. Mental retardation can also occur.

Cerebral Palsy: This condition happens when an infection is present or when there is a low level of oxygen at the time of birth. This condition sees the loss of muscle control and a retardation of the child’s natural ability to walk or remain standing.

These are all problems that will affect you and your child for an entire lifetime. The Rasansky Law Firm wants to stress the fact that these problems can be minimized or avoided if a doctor takes appropriate action such as suggested by The Mayo Clinic. A doctor will usually recommend a C-section if severe fetal distress is likely to affect the child.

If the doctor fails to live up to the precedent that his own industry has set, then this is a case of medical malpractice. If your baby dies or is born with a birth injury because of medical malpractice, you may be entitled to damages. The best thing to do is to talk to qualified attorney who can help you build a case. Contact us today and find out about your legal right.