Texas law provides a path for victims to seek financial compensation when someone is injured due to another person's negligence. Whether you were hurt in a car accident, slipped and fell on someone’s […]
When a woman is pregnant, the umbilical cord acts as a lifeline between her and the fetus. The umbilical cord is a flexible tube-shaped structure that removes waste from the baby’s circulation and transports nutrients and oxygen to the fetus through the mother’s placenta. The umbilical cord starts to develop during the fourth week of pregnancy and is roughly 51 centimeters long and 2.5 centimeters in diameter.
During the birthing process, the baby could be at risk of serious complications or even death if the umbilical cord is not positioned properly. One umbilical cord complication that commonly arises is compression. When this happens, the flow of oxygen and blood to the infant is restricted. In some cases, umbilical cord compression is unavoidable. However, the attending doctor and other members of the birthing team are responsible for promptly identifying the issue and administering proper and effective treatment as quickly as possible.
If negligence on the part of your doctor or other medical professional caused or failed to address umbilical cord compression, this could be viewed as malpractice and they could be held liable. Umbilical cord compression injuries can span your child’s life and place undue emotional and financial hardships on your family.
It is not uncommon for umbilical cord compression to occur. It can be brought on by movement inside the womb or during contractions once labor begins. There are three main complications that can lead to compression of the umbilical cord and the restriction of vital oxygen and nutrients for the baby. They are:
Roughly 10% to 29% of all fetuses have a nuchal cord. This is a condition in which the umbilical cord is wrapped around the infant’s neck. Nuchal cord compressions are usually mild but severe compressions, although rare, do happen.
During the birthing process, a nuchal cord can lead to permanent effects on the infant and possibly even death if necessary precautions, such as an emergency C-section, are not taken.
The prolapse of the umbilical cord is a critical complication that can arise both during and before delivery. It occurs when the umbilical cord precedes the infant. Normally, to avoid compression, the baby passes through the mother’s cervix first and is then followed by the umbilical cord.
This scenario constitutes a medical emergency since it could potentially compromise the oxygen and blood supply to the baby during delivery. When the umbilical cord is exposed to air, it constricts, affecting blood flow and possibly resulting in serious and lifelong disabilities in the child.
A knotted cord is exactly what it sounds like; an umbilical cord that has become knotted either in utero or during delivery. Knotted cords commonly occur in cases where the umbilical cord is unusually long. Not every knotted umbilical cord will lead to complications. In some cases, the knot is loose enough for oxygen and blood to still flow to the baby. If the knot is tight, however, serious problems can ensue.
When an expectant mother selects a doctor or birthing team to deliver her newborn, she trusts that they will closely monitor both her pregnancy and the delivery and identify any potential complications. If her umbilical cord is compressed, they are expected to promptly identify the condition and do everything in their power to treat it.
Thanks to advancements in imaging and medicine, there are multiple methods and tools that can be used to accurately and expeditiously diagnose umbilical cord compression. For example, ultrasounds can detect the umbilical cord’s location and whether or not it has fallen out of the mother’s cervix. A fetal Doppler can monitor a baby’s heartbeat which can then be analyzed to determine if oxygen and blood flow are being restricted.
Signs that an umbilical cord may be compressed include:
If your obstetrician failed to recognize any of these symptoms or failed to monitor you properly during your pregnancy, they may have committed medical negligence.
Without a steady supply of oxygen and blood, a fetus could experience short and long-term consequences or death. The majority of injuries involving umbilical cord compression result in some degree of brain damage. Other common birth injuries associated with the compression of the umbilical cord are:
Even with modern technology, 19% of stillbirths are due to umbilical cord compression.
Even with a prompt diagnosis and appropriate medical treatment, injuries due to umbilical cord compression are not always avoidable. However, if a doctor or other healthcare professional waits to diagnose or fails to treat compression injuries promptly, some medical negligence could be at play. If you plan on filing a medical malpractice claim for damages, you will have to prove that negligence existed and that it was the source of your baby’s injuries. A seasoned birth injury attorney can help you file your claim successfully.
Umbilical cord compression injuries can have a lifelong impact on your child, which can, in turn, put you and your family in financial dire straits. You entrusted your doctor with your newborn baby’s safety. If they failed to uphold the medical standard of care due to negligence, they and the medical facility for which they work should be held liable.
In a birth injury malpractice claim, you could be eligible to collect financial compensation for:
An umbilical cord compression injury could be a lifelong obstacle for you and your baby. If you suspect that your baby’s umbilical cord compression injuries were caused by medical negligence, you need to reach out to an experienced Dallas birth injury attorney from Rasansky Law Firm. To schedule your free consultation, call (214) 651-6100 or fill out the form on our website.
Note: The information that was utilized in this post was gathered from the use of secondary sources. This information used has not been confirmed or independently verified. If you locate any information that is not correct, please contact our firm as soon as possible so that we can make the appropriate corrections. If you find any information that is false, we will remove or correct the post immediately after it is brought to our attention.
Disclaimer: As a valued member of the Dallas community, Rasansky Law Firm’s goal is to improve the safety of all residents in the great state of Texas. These posts should not be viewed as a solicitation for business and the information included herein should not be taken as medical or legal advice. The photos used in this post are not representative of the actual crash scene.
Texas law provides a path for victims to seek financial compensation when someone is injured due to another person's negligence. Whether you were hurt in a car accident, slipped and fell on someone’s […]
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