Oxygen Deprivation During Birth: Causes, Consequences, and Legal Implications

Even minor oxygen deprivation during the birthing process can result in serious, life-long medical conditions and even death. Birth asphyxia, which happens when an infant’s brain and other vital organs do not receive adequate oxygen before, during, or immediately following birth, can lead to severe, long-term health complications such as brain damage. When a newborn baby experiences brain damage at birth due to a lack of oxygen, they are at a heightened risk of developing autism, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and dyspraxia. Fortunately, the law allows families to recover the losses they and their babies endured caused by negligent healthcare professionals. A Dallas birth asphyxia lawyer can help you understand your rights and file a medical malpractice claim against the liable party.

Asphyxia Due to Oxygen Deprivation  

Asphyxia, more commonly referred to as suffocation, occurs when someone is deprived of oxygen which leads to unconsciousness. If the person is not revived immediately and their brain and vital organs go too long without oxygen, death is often the result. 

When a baby is deprived of oxygen during the birthing process and survives, he or she often sustains serious and irreversible brain damage. Other developmental, neurological, growth, and physical abnormalities as well as certain mental health conditions can also be caused by oxygen deprivation and asphyxia. 

Infants who experience asphyxia, even for just a few minutes, are more prone to developing lifelong behavioral issues and learning disabilities. 

Even cases of mild and moderate asphyxia can lead to conditions including autism spectrum disorder, hyperactivity, low IQ, attention deficits, schizophrenia, and many other psychiatric disorders.

Some of the conditions commonly caused by oxygen deprivation during birth include:

• Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: Also known as perinatal asphyxia, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is a direct result of subacute or acute brain injury due to a loss of oxygen and blood flow to an infant’s brain during gestation or birth. When the cells of an infant’s developing brain are deprived of oxygen, they decay and eventually die.
• Anoxia: Anoxia is a total lack of oxygen. Often, it is the result of low oxygen levels in the blood; a condition called hypoxia. This can occur when an infant is born, regardless of if they are preterm or full-term. Anoxia can be due to maternal low blood pressure or oxygen supply during labor or delivery or issues with the umbilical cord or placenta that cause insufficient blood flow to the newborn.

How Do Birth Injuries Caused by Oxygen Deprivation Happen?

During labor and delivery, there are numerous ways an infant could be subjected to a lack of oxygen, including:

• Not enough oxygen in the maternal blood supply before or during labor or delivery
• Early separation of the womb and placenta  
• Difficult delivery or prolonged labor 
• Prolapsed umbilical cord and other complications
• Anemia in the infant  
• Maternal or fetal infection
• Low or high blood pressure in the mother
• Baby’s airway is malformed or obstructed  

What Types of Birth Injuries Can Oxygen Deprivation Cause?

A study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calculates that roughly one out of every 700 births has complications related to oxygen deprivation. Other research studies have suggested that this number might actually be as high as one in every 200 births.  

Common birth injuries resulting from asphyxia include:

• Issues with lung development: Lung development problems can be the result of inadequate blood flow through the umbilical cord during pregnancy or an underdeveloped placenta. In some cases, the baby is unable to breathe properly after being born, which, if left untreated, can lead to infection or lung collapse. 
• Skeletal deformities: A skeletal deformity occurs when a baby’s bones do not grow properly. This can have a detrimental impact on their long-term mobility and health. When babies are deprived of oxygen pre-birth, they are more prone to developing skeletal deformities as they grow. This can cause conditions such as scoliosis (curvature of the spine) to develop.
• Cerebral palsy: Cerebral palsy is the result of damage to specific parts of the brain while it is still developing in utero. Cerebral palsy causes difficulties with coordination and movement due to the effects of physical abnormalities in the joints and muscles. This form of brain damage can be due to decreased oxygen flow to the brain in utero or the disruption of oxygen flow during childbirth.

Legal Recourse for Birth Injuries Cause by Oxygen Deprivation

A Dallas birth asphyxia lawyer can help you and your family pursue justice and financial compensation for the damage your baby endured. You may be eligible to bring a medical malpractice claim against the physician or medical facility whose negligence caused your baby’s brain damage due to lack of oxygen. 

Contacting a Dallas birth injury attorney can increase your chances of a successful claim and maximum financial recovery. By pursuing a medical malpractice claim, you could receive compensation for current medical bills, future medical bills, medical devices, physical therapy, pain and suffering, and more. In rare cases, a court might also impose punitive damages on the medical professional or facility to penalize them for especially egregious behavior and deter similar conduct in the future. 

Consult a Birth Injury Lawyer Today

Birth injury cases are complicated. Not all brain injuries are immediately obvious at birth and have symptoms that only manifest later down the road. If that is the case, it can be extremely challenging to prove that your baby’s condition was the result of oxygen deprivation, especially if it develops slowly.

Rearing a child with a disability who needs extensive or ongoing medical treatments is considerably more expensive than rearing a child without advanced educational, medical, or day-to-day needs. If your child sustained an oxygen deprivation-related birth injury and you have questions or concerns about filing a claim, speak with a Dallas birth injury lawyer from Rasansky Law Firm. We offer a free initial consultation and can advise you on the best way to move forward with your birth injury case.