Baltimore Cord Prolapse Lawyer
During pregnancy, the umbilical cord is the lifeline between the unborn baby and the mother. When it becomes compressed or damaged, it is essential that immediate treatment is administered to ensure the child does not suffer long-term injury or death. If your baby has passed away or suffered a serious injury due to an accident involving the umbilical cord, our Baltimore cord prolapse lawyers can advise you of your legal options.
Causes of Umbilical Cord Prolapse
A prolapsed umbilical cord occurs when the cord prolapses, or drops, into the birth canal before the child is born. When an umbilical cord prolapses, the head or shoulder of the fetus can compress the cord. This will cut off the oxygen supply and blood flow to the fetus. If a prolapsed umbilical cord is not treated right away, it can result in fetal hypoxia, which occurs when the baby is deprived of oxygen. A lack of oxygen can result in serious brain damage and even wrongful death.
Cord prolapse only happens in fewer than one percent of pregnancies but when it does occur, it is extremely dangerous. The condition is usually caused by a premature rupture of the membranes containing the amniotic fluid. However, there are other causes of this condition, too. The most common of these include:
- Multiple births
- Low birth weight
- Premature delivery of the child
- Hyperactive fetus
- Abnormal presentation
- Excessive amniotic fluid
When Negligence is to Blame for a Cord Prolapse
When an umbilical cord prolapses, it is crucial to diagnose and treat it as soon as possible. The best way to identify umbilical cord prolapse is through fetal monitoring. An electronic fetal heart monitor will measure the heart rate of the baby during the birthing process, which is a critical aspect of detecting the condition. Sometimes, doctors can also discover a prolapsed umbilical cord during a pelvic exam. Any time a prolapsed umbilical cord is identified, immediate treatment is vital and that typically requires an emergency C-section.
Doctors that fail to diagnose and treat a prolapsed umbilical cord can be considered negligent and held liable for any damages that result. Negligent healthcare providers are held liable for damages through medical malpractice claims. For example, when a doctor does not use electronic monitoring to ensure the safety of the unborn child, the parents can file a medical malpractice claim for damages. When doing so, it is important to have witness testimony from a healthcare provider in the same specialty as the defendant. A Baltimore birth injury lawyer will know how to obtain this testimony so you recover full damages.
Our Birth Injury Lawyer in Baltimore Can Assist with Your Claim
If your child has been injured due to a prolapsed umbilical cord that could have been prevented, our Baltimore birth injury lawyer can help. At Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC, our skilled attorneys are dedicated to helping families recover the damages they deserve when they have been harmed by the negligence of healthcare professionals. We want to put that experience to work for you, too. Call us today at 410-998-3600 or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation.
