Fetal Bradycardia Birth Injuries

Did your child suffer brain damage due to fetal bradycardia?

Our Texas birth injury attorneys are happy to look into the facts of your case free of charge and explain the options available to you and your family moving forward. Call us today at (214) 651-6100 for a free consultation.

Labor is a complicated process requiring the utmost attention and care given to the mother and child. A lapse in judgment or negligence on behalf of the medical team can lead to serious birth injuries including permanent brain damage. If medical malpractice on behalf of a doctor or nurse led to your child's birth injuries, why should your family suffer the financial consequences?

Our job is to work for you. At Rasansky Law Firm, we've represented numerous families in your exact situation. We understand that you have questions, and we're here to help provide answers. If you would like to discuss your family's case, call us today at (214) 651-6100 or email us using the contact form on this page.

We only handle birth injury claims on a contingency basis, meaning you never have to risk a penny out of pocket to have us handle your claim. We only get paid if we win your case.

What is fetal bradycardia?

Fetal bradycardia refers to an abnormally low heartbeat of a fetus in distress (less than 110 beats per minute). This is usually due to low oxygen supply caused by a lack of blood flow or other labor-related complication during the delivery process. The heart is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood throughout the body, and any obstruction of the child's blood flow can lead to fetal hypoxia, tissue death, and infant brain damage.

A newborn child’s heart is supposed to beat at ~120 beats per minute. This is the standard (average), and it is monitored by a heart machine. If the baby's heart beat drops to 110 BPM or below, the child is considered to be in fetal distress. Doctors must act fast to determine the cause(s) so that the issue can be mitigated before further complications materialize.

Not every case of fetal bradycardia is caused by negligence or malpractice, but unless you have the facts investigated by a third-party, you're not likely to get the hospital to provide much helpful information. Our attorneys can evaluate your records, review them with expert witnesses, and provide you with the information we discover. If it looks as if your family has a valid claim, we can begin working on your case immediately on a no-win, no-fee basis.

Pitocin increases the risk of fetal bradycardia.

A medication called Pitocin (oxytocin) is often given to the mother by way of an injection to help induce, regulate or speed up contractions. While Pitocin is effective most of the time, it doesn’t come without its set of problems. This form of artificial oxytocin can stimulate abnormally strong contractions which can go on to affect the baby’s vital functions as it passes through the birth canal. It can lead to cerebral compression, entangling of the umbilical cord, maternal distress, and cause an interruption in the way the baby’s heart beats.

Pitocin administration isn’t the only thing that causes fetal distress. If your child contracted Group B Strep during the prenatal stage, it might affect their heart function. An umbilical cord wrapped around their neck during delivery (nuchal cord) may also interfere with how the heart pumps blood through the body, and a breech birth (which in some cases can be resolved by a cesarean section) can also lead to fetal bradycardia.

You have options, and we can help.

Medical professionals, by law, owe you and your child a legal duty of care. If said care falls below the acceptable standard in the medical community and your child suffers an injury as a result, they have committed medical malpractice. While these types of cases can be difficult to bring in Texas due to tort reform measures, you will be hard-pressed to find another law firm in Texas with more experience handling birth injury cases.

Fetal bradycardia frequently leads to brain damage in newborns, and can even lead to the development of cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder. If your child suffered a birth injury due to a low fetal heartbeat (bradycardia), give us a call today at (214) 651-6100.