Medical Malpractice: My Baby Suffered Brain Damage? How is that possible?

You're in labor. Your due date is tomorrow. Your contractions are not that strong and you feel the baby moving. The doctor gives you medicine to increase your contractions, usually known as pitocin. The contractions help ripen the cervix, and also places stress on the baby to 'prepare' the baby for birth. Assuming no complications, the medicine to increase your contractions will be increased over time.

The problem usually arises when a doctor or nurse fails to recognize that your baby is in distress and not responding well to the normal stresses that a baby experiences during labor. Maybe a fetal heart monitor isn't being watched carefully. Maybe there were other deliveries going on at the same time that required your doctor's attention.

In some cases a baby's heartrate may change dramatically and drop to dangerously low levels for an extended period of time. This is known as 'bradycardia'. In other cases a baby's heartrate might race for a period of time. This is known as 'tachycardia'. In either case, the conditions require intervention if they continue for a period of time. Failure to intervene can have devastating consequences for the baby.

A baby whose heartrate is very low for a long period of time may develop 'hypoxia', a lack of oxygen to the baby's brain and other vital organs. Other times, there may be a complete blockage of blood flow causing anoxia, or an absence of oxygen.

Oxygen is crucial for life. Diminished oxygen or lack of oxygen starves the baby's brain and vital organs. Baby's that have experienced decreased oxygen during the birth process tend to have significant developmental delays as well as other significant medical problems.

If you believe your baby's development is significantly delayed or that your baby suffered brain damage as a result of the birth, you should speak to an experienced New York medical malpractice lawyer immediately.