Labor and delivery happen every day, but they’re not easy processes. There are always risks to the baby and mother, which is why fetal monitoring is an important tool. Fetal monitoring helps physicians evaluate the health and safety of an unborn baby. However, if a medical professional does not properly interpret or respond to what the monitor shows, it can lead to serious harm for both the baby and the mother.
Doctors and medical staff are trained to use fetal monitoring to detect fetal distress. When these signs are detected, the medical staff must act quickly. When an abnormal fetal heart rate goes unrecognized, it can lead to asphyxia, cerebral palsy, paralysis, brain damage, and stillbirth.
Knowing that your child was injured due to a doctor’s negligence can be a devastating situation. Contact our Fort Lauderdale fetal heartbeat malpractice lawyer at Freidin Brown, P.A. to understand your legal options.
Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring
During labor and delivery, doctors will monitor the baby via fetal heart rate monitoring. Monitoring is typically done by wrapping a belt with sensors around the mother’s belly, although it can also be done by attaching an electrode to the fetus. There are two separate components. The top is the baby’s heart rate; the bottom shows the contractions. The relationship between these two is critical to the health of the baby.
Doctors will monitor two main things: the absolute heart rate and the variability of the heart rate. A steady heart rate is a cause for concern, so there should be variability, but not too much.
The purpose of the fetal monitoring is to see the warning signs and act on them before the baby’s brain and other vital organs suffer harm. If the fetal monitoring strips indicate that the baby does not have the oxygen it needs, doctors should deliver the child by C-section right away. If the doctor allows the mother to continue on with the labor, the baby will suffer. The baby could suffer serious harm or death, resulting in a lawsuit.
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Fetal Distress
Fetal distress means that the baby is not getting enough oxygen or any other nutrients. The fetus typically gets oxygen from the mother’s oxygenated blood via the placenta.
If the fetus has tachycardia, bradycardia, or variable decelerations, the baby is at risk for brain and organ damage. Therefore, when doctors and nurses discover signs of fetal distress, they need to react appropriately. But in many cases, they either overreact or underreact.
Contact Freidin Brown, P.A. Today
Labor and delivery are common, but they don’t always come easy. Sometimes babies have trouble when they are too small or too big or if there are other issues involved.
If your baby has been affected, the team at Freidin Brown, P.A. can help. Contact our knowledgeable Fort Lauderdale fetal heartbeat malpractice lawyers for help with your case. Schedule a free consultation today by calling us today or filling out the online form.
