Umbilical Cord Prolapse Injury Lawyer
When the umbilical precedes the infant during childbirth or becomes decompressed due to an abnormal position, this is referred to as umbilical cord prolapse. The danger is that the umbilical cord will no longer be able to deliver blood and oxygen to the brain, which can cause injury or death during childbirth. While this is a rare occurrence, when the medical delivery team uses the techniques and tools at their disposal quickly, often injury and death can be avoided. Delayed reaction is the worst-case scenario, which can be a form of medical malpractice when it causes a birth injury.
Umbilical cord prolapse (UCP) is one of the delivery complications that needs to be identified quickly. Experienced OB/GYNs and delivery nurses often can anticipate possible UCP and undergo preventive measures. There are three types of UCP, including overt, occult and funic. Overt is the most common, where the umbilical cord precedes the infant through the birth canal. The goal in UCP is to ensure that the cord does not become trapped or compressed by the fetus during delivery to reduce the chance of bradycardia or asphyxia that can lead to brain injury or death.
Signs of UCP During Delivery
With overt UCP, the first sign of trouble may be when the umbilical cord arrives through the vaginal canal before any of the child presents itself. For other cases of UCP, bradycardia may be the first sign something is wrong. A slow heartbeat can indicate that the baby is not getting enough oxygen to the brain due to the umbilical cord being depressed. There are procedures and techniques that can be used to remedy the situation, but if the symptoms of UCP are ignored, it can become too late and the child is at risk of injury or death.
If umbilical cord prolapse occurred during delivery and your child did not survive or was born with brain injuries, it may be a case of medical malpractice. It is important to have a legal team on your side to research the facts and help determine whether medical errors occurred. Contact Moriarty Injury Lawyer to discuss your case to learn more about your legal options and possible financial compensation for medical malpractice.