The Connection Between Oxygen Deprivation During Birth and Birth Injuries

Oxygen deprivation is a common cause of birth injuries. Depriving a baby of oxygen during or after delivery – even for a relatively short time – can have effects that last for days, weeks, or even a lifetime. Sometimes, no one is responsible for these outcomes. But in many situations, the injury can be directly traced to the actions of an OB-GYN, a NICU doctor, a hospital, or another medical provider. 

This article helps parents understand the role that oxygen plays in common birth injuries. It also discusses how parents can spot the signs of oxygen-related birth injuries and how they can hold medical staff responsible. Finally, it discusses how a Laurel birth injury attorney can help your child and family after a birth injury. 

Oxygen Deprivation During Birth: Why it Matters 

Oxygen deprivation during birth happens when a baby doesn’t get the proper amount of oxygen before, during, or after labor and delivery. Some of the terms doctors use to describe oxygen-related conditions include: 

• Hypoxia. This term refers to oxygen levels that are lower than normal. 
• Hypoxemia. This describes low oxygen levels in the blood. It is a warning sign that the baby’s organs may not be receiving sufficient oxygen. 
• Anoxia. Anoxia describes a complete lack of oxygen. 
• Ischemia. Ischemia occurs when blood flow to the body’s tissues is reduced. Because blood carries oxygen to the body’s cells, this is a serious condition. 

A lack of oxygen during delivery can limit brain activity, damage brain cells, and affect the brain’s ability to control the body and its functions. Additionally, without oxygen, the body’s normal chemical balance is upset. For example, low oxygen can lead to metabolic acidosis, which, among other effects, can cause calcium buildup that destroys cells. Finally, sadly, restoring oxygen flow won’t automatically cure all oxygen-deprivation issues. Cells, particularly brain cells, can continue to suffer for days or longer after oxygen loss. 

Oxygen Deprivation and Birth Injuries 

Oxygen deprivation is closely connected to many types of birth injuries. For example, cerebral palsy occurs when parts of the brain responsible for certain functions, especially motor control, are damaged. Sadly, once damaged, these cells cannot repair themselves. Oxygen deprivation is one potential cause of this damage.

Other than cerebral palsy, other common birth injuries that can be related to oxygen deprivation include: 

• Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
• Intracranial hemorrhage 
• Neonatal encephalopathy 
• Seizure disorders 
• Developmental delay 
• Vision and hearing impairment
• Damage to organs such as the heart, kidneys, liver, and lungs
• Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN)

Common Causes of Oxygen Deprivation During Birth – And When Doctors Might Be Responsible 

To win your Maryland birth injury lawsuit, you’ll have to prove that the hospitals, doctors, nurses, and others who treated you and your baby were negligent. This is sometimes called medical malpractice. To prove medical negligence in Maryland, you and your Laurel birth injury attorney will have to prove that the medical staff that cared for you and your baby had a duty to follow accepted medical standards, failed to follow those standards, and that their failure directly caused the injury to your child. 

Doctors are not responsible for all oxygen deprivation issues during labor and delivery. However, many cases of oxygen deprivation could have – and should have – been caught much earlier. When oxygen loss happens, the medical team must act quickly. Longer periods of oxygen deprivation carry a greater risk of serious, even permanent, damage. So, a doctor’s or nurse’s failure to quickly recognize the signs of fetal distress and to respond swiftly and properly could be considered negligent under certain circumstances. Common medical oversights that often lead to oxygen deprivation include:

• Failing to respond quickly or appropriately to conditions such as umbilical cord compression or placental abruption
• Failure to properly monitor fetal signs 
• Misreading or misinterpreting fetal health data 
• Allowing labor to go on too long without medical intervention (protracted labor) 
• Unnecessarily delaying a needed Cesarean section (C-section) or other medical intervention

Signs of Oxygen Deprivation in Newborns 

Most parents don’t immediately realize that something is wrong. However, certain issues during and after delivery can indicate that the baby lost oxygen during or after birth. These may include: 

• Seizures 
• Low APGAR scores
• Difficulty breathing 
• Weak muscle tone (e.g., baby feels more “floppy” or “stiff” than a normal newborn when held or has trouble moving or holding their head) 
• Difficulty with the sucking reflex during feeding 
• Excessive sleeping 
• Swelling in the head or other body parts 
• Failing to meet early milestones (Developmental delays)

Protect Your Child’s Legal Rights After an Oxygen-Deprivation Birth Injury 

If a doctor or hospital caused your child’s birth injury, your child and your family have legal rights. Navigating the legal system can be difficult, but an experienced Laurel birth injury attorney can guide you through the process and help your family protect its rights.

If you live in Laurel, Waldorf, Leonardtown, or the surrounding areas and need legal representation after a birth injury, contact the Law Offices of Thomas E. Pyles. We’ll fight to get your family the compensation that you deserve. Call 301-705-5006 today or use our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.