For decades, our team has been focused on one thing: helping children and their families when a serious injury changes their lives forever. We’ve seen countless heart-wrenching situations, but few are as devastating as a child suffering a birth injury that leads to something like Cerebral Palsy.
One of the most serious causes of Cerebral Palsy is when a baby doesn’t get enough oxygen to their brain during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. Doctors call this hypoxia (not enough oxygen) or asphyxia (no oxygen). It’s a terrifying thought for any parent, and if it happens, the results can be permanent and life-altering. Let’s talk about why this is so critical, how it happens, what it means for families, and what the best possible outcomesare for your child.
Imagine a tiny sprout needing water to grow strong. A baby’s developing brain needs a steady flow of oxygen, like water for that sprout. If, for some reason, that oxygen supply gets cut off or severely limited, even for a short time, delicate brain cells can be damaged or even die. This brain damage is a leading cause of Cerebral Palsy (CP), a condition that affects a child’s muscle control, movement, and posture for their entire life.
It’s a scary thought, but studies show that between 6% and 10% of Cerebral Palsy cases are caused by birth asphyxia (lack of oxygen). While it might seem like a small percentage, given how many babies are born each year, this still impacts thousands of families.
Sadly, there are several things that can go wrong during the birth process that can lead to a baby not getting enough oxygen. Doctors and nurses are supposed to be watching for these problems very carefully.
Umbilical Cord Problems: The umbilical cord is like a lifeline, bringing oxygen-rich blood to the baby. If it gets squeezed, compressed, or wrapped too tightly around the baby's neck (called a "nuchal cord"), that oxygen flow can be cut off. About 20% of pregnancies have one loop of umbilical cord around the baby's neck, but in a small number, if it's too tight or not managed, it can lead to issues. If doctors don't notice this or act quickly to relieve the pressure, serious oxygen deprivation can occur.
Placenta Problems: The baby gets oxygen from the placenta through the umbilical cord. If the placenta detaches too early from the uterus (called placental abruption), or if it's not working properly (placental insufficiency), the baby won't get enough oxygen. Placental abruption happens in roughly 1 in every 100 to 200 pregnancies. Doctors must monitor for signs of these issues.
Mother's Health Issues: Sometimes, the mother's health can impact the baby's oxygen. If a mother has severe blood pressure problems (like preeclampsia) that aren't managed well, or if she experiences heavy bleeding, it can reduce oxygen flow to the baby. Preeclampsia affects about 5% to 7% of pregnancies and can increase risks like placental abruption. (Source: NCHStats).
Long or Difficult Labor: A labor that goes on for too long, or a difficult delivery, can also put too much stress on the baby, leading to oxygen deprivation.
While some complications can happen even with the best care, many times, oxygen deprivation at birth is preventable. Doctors and medical staff have very clear guidelines they must follow to monitor the baby’s heart rate, recognize signs of distress, and intervene quickly (like performing an emergency C-section) when a baby isn’t getting enough oxygen.
The Child Injury Firm has decades of experience looking into these complex situations. We work with leading medical experts to determine if a doctor, nurse, or hospital made a mistake – if they didn’t act quickly enough, didn’t recognize the warning signs, or didn’t manage a complication properly. When medical negligence leads to a child’s brain being starved of oxygen and results in Cerebral Palsy, families deserve justice and compensation.
It’s estimated that about 7 birth injuries occur for every 1,000 children born in the United States. While not all of these are due to oxygen deprivation or negligence, it shows how common birth injuries can be. The financial and emotional costs for families raising a child with Cerebral Palsy are enormous, often reaching multi millions of dollars over a lifetime for medical care, therapies, and special equipment.
If your child has Cerebral Palsy and you suspect a lack of oxygen during birth was involved, you probably have a million questions. You might wonder if it could have been prevented, or what your best options are.
The Child Injury Firm is here to help. We have spent decades helping families navigate these incredibly difficult cases. We offer free, compassionate consultations to review your child’s medical records, talk about what happened, and determine if medical negligence played a role. We fight to hold negligent medical providers accountable and secure the financial compensation your child needs for lifelong care, therapy, and a future with the best possible quality of life.
Don’t wait. Time is important in these cases. Reach out to The Child Injury Firm today. We’re here to be your child’s voice and fight for the justice they deserve.
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“Lack of oxygen” during birth can be a medical emergency that doctors call hypoxia (meaning ‘not enough’ oxygen) or asphyxia (meaning ‘no’ oxygen). Imagine your baby’s brain cells needing a constant flow of oxygen, just like you need to breathe. If this oxygen supply gets cut off or severely limited, even for a short time during pregnancy, labor, or delivery, those sensitive brain cells can be seriously damaged or even die. This brain damage is a major cause of serious conditions like Cerebral Palsy (CP), which affects a child’s movement and muscle control for their whole life.
A lack of oxygen can happen in several ways, and while some are unavoidable, many times, it can be prevented with careful medical attention. For example:
While some complications are tough to avoid, medical professionals have clear guidelines to watch for these problems and act fast. Many cases of oxygen deprivation at birth are indeed preventable if doctors and nurses follow proper procedures.
Not every lack of oxygen means there was medical negligence. However, if a healthcare provider’s carelessness or mistake led to the oxygen deprivation, then it could be medical negligence.
The financial and emotional costs of raising a child with severe brain damage like Cerebral Palsy are enormous. If negligence is proven, your child could receive compensation for:
The Child Injury Firm has decades of experience dedicated solely to helping children who have been injured, especially from birth injuries like those caused by lack of oxygen.
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