Fetal Acidosis Birth Injuries

Has your child suffered a birth injury related to fetal acidosis?

Fetal acidosis is a medical term which refers to increased acidity levels in the blood, and is often a precursor to serious birth injuries such as fetal hypoxia or hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

Fetal acidosis usually occurs in newborn babies when the child suffers from a lack of oxygen for an extended time period either during pregnancy, labor or delivery. Medical professionals are trained to check blood gases, look for the signs of acidosis, and provide immediate treatment. Failing to do so may be considered medical malpractice.

When there is a reduction in a child’s blood-oxygen levels, it can result in an increase in the amount of acid in the blood and a dangerous drop in pH levels, leading to serious brain injuries such as hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy or cerebral palsy.

If you believe that your doctors or nurses failed in their duty to identify, detect, and/or treat your child's birth injury, we invite you to call our birth injury lawyers at (214) 651-6100 for a free consultation. We'll discuss your case, evaluate your potential claim, and advise you of your options moving forward—all at no cost. If we feel as though we can help you bring a birth injury claim or lawsuit, you can hire us on contingency (no fees unless we win your case).

Common causes of fetal acidosis.

A lack of blood flow (oxygen) to the fetus during pregnancy or labor has the potential to cause cell death and irreversible brain damage. Some of the complications that can result in fetal acidosis include:

• Compression of the umbilical cord which occurs due to the position of the baby relative to the umbilical cord’s position.
• If the umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby’s neck (nuchal cord), it can cut off the oxygen supply and ultimately cause acidosis and other severe complications.
• Difficult labor and delivery can cause the baby to become wedged in the womb or prevent progress from the womb. Unless medical attention is sought immediately, acidosis or possible brain damage can result.
• When shoulder dystocia is present, there can be a delay in delivery leading to a lack of oxygen to the fetus, and thus, acidosis.
• When a child’s head is too large to enter or pass through the birth canal, it can lead to a number of complications including acidosis or brain damage.
• The birth of a child that is extremely large can cause him or her to become wedged in the birth canal. This can lead to an extended period of decreased oxygen, potentially leading to acidosis or other life threatening conditions.
• Any time a delivery is obstructed it can cause acidosis, brain damage, and sometimes even become fatal.

Signs, symptoms, and diagnosis.

The most common signs and symptoms of acidosis include are as follows:

• Increased pain and/or stressful labor
• Compromised oxygen supply to the baby
• Fetal distress
• Minimal or lack of fetal movement
• Respiratory distress
• Problems with the oral motor functions
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Difficulty waking the baby from sleep
• Low pH in the blood/cord
• Low Apgar score
• Prenatal meconium aspiration prior to birth which can lead to serious complications including brain damage

In order to diagnose acidosis, medical staff will use methods such as: physical examination, ultrasound, electronic fetal monitoring, and/or fetal blood tests taken from the umbilical cord.

When not properly and quickly treated, fetal acidosis can lead to a number of serious complications, including:

• Cerebral palsy
• Developmental delays
• Paralysis
• Periventricular leukomalacia
• Seizure disorders
• Fetal hypoxia or hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy
• Brain damage

Was my child's fetal acidosis caused by medical malpractice?

There are many factors related to medical malpractice and the development of acidosis, such as:

• Failure to properly monitor the child's blood-gas levels
• Use of fetal monitoring equipment that is faulty or not used properly
• Failing to diagnose and treat complications of pregnancy, labor, and delivery that could cause a lack of oxygen
• Miscalculating the baby’s size, thus causing delivery complications that include acidosis and brain damage
• Failing to administer oxygen when the newborn or the mother is in distress
• Failing to properly identify a vaginal delivery that is obstructed
• Delaying the decision to perform a C-section

Medical malpractice claims are notoriously difficult to bring in Texas, but our attorneys will give you our honest assessment of where you stand when you call us. If we feel as though you have a strong case, we'll let you know. If we need to further investigate your claims in order to make that determination, we'll advise you of such during your consultation.

It's difficult to determine exactly what factors led to your child's birth injury without knowing the specifics of your situation, but our Dallas birth injury lawyers are happy to review your case over the phone or by email, free of charge. In fact, our firm never charge any fees unless we put money in your pocket. For a free consultation, call us 24 hours a day at (214) 651-6100.