Maryland Umbilical Cord Strangulation Lawyers
The umbilical cord is an important part of the baby. While in the womb, the umbilical cord provides the baby with oxygen and nutrients so that they can grow. After birth, the cord is clamped and cut, leaving a stump that eventually forms a belly button. If your doctor was negligent and caused your baby to suffer injuries, seek legal help from the Maryland umbilical cord strangulation lawyers at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman.
While in the womb, a lot can happen to the baby. It’s possible for the umbilical cord to wrap around the baby’s neck. In fact, this is a common occurrence that happens in as many as 35% of pregnancies. When the cord wraps around the baby’s neck once, it is called a nuchal cord. When it wraps around the baby’s neck twice, it is called a double nuchal cord.
A nuchal cord may sound like a serious issue, but the truth is that it usually does not pose a risk to the baby. However, there are situations in which it can harm the baby. For example, nuchal cords can interrupt blood flow and oxygen levels. They can also keep a baby from getting oxygen. These issues can cause birth injuries such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), which is a type of brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation.
If a nuchal cord is present, doctors should carefully monitor this condition and determine whether the baby can be delivered vaginally or if a C-section is necessary.
Possible Umbilical Cord Complications
Having the umbilical cord wrap around the baby’s neck two or more times can occur in as many as 7% of births. While a baby can still be born healthy when the cord is wrapped around the baby’s neck multiple times, there is a higher risk of complications such as fetal heart rate abnormalities and growth issues.
The umbilical cord can also strangle a baby and cut off oxygen flow. It could also become compressed against itself or the baby’s neck, and this would reduce blood flow through the umbilical cord. This can also be very dangerous to the baby and cause birth asphyxia. This depends on the type of nuchal cord: locked or unlocked. An unlocked one is more likely to disentangle.
In either case, an umbilical cord can get wrapped around a baby’s neck in a true knot pattern. It can deprive the baby of oxygen by impinging the blood vessels, restricting blood flow, or cutting off blood circulation.
Contact Us Today
While umbilical cord strangulation is rare, it can happen, causing the baby to be deprived of oxygen. This can lead to serious complications and even death.
Did your baby suffer from umbilical cord strangulation? If so, the personal injury lawyers at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman can help you get the compensation you need to help your baby recover from their injuries. Schedule a free consultation with us today so we can fight your case. Call our office at 410-998-3600.
