Causes & Consequences of Oxygen Deprivation During Childbirth

As you face a future with a child who is struggling with cognitive or developmental delays, you may be unsure what you can do to help them. First, you should speak to an attorney if you feel that your child suffered unnecessary and preventable oxygen deprivation during childbirth and is now suffering the consequences of it.

At Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC, we work with clients who are facing an uphill battle trying to get information about their child’s situation. When you have questions about the causes and consequences of oxygen deprivation during childbirth, let our Portland birth injury attorneys help you. 

What Causes Oxygen Deprivation During Childbirth?

The term oxygen deprivation indicates that a child is not getting enough oxygen to the brain or other organs for some reason. Some of the most common causes of this include:

• Too much Pitocin is given to the mother during the pre-birth labor process
• Trauma to the child while they are in utero
• Placental abruption is a condition in which the placenta separates from the uterine wall early, causing the risk of a lack of oxygen
• The umbilical cord is not positioned properly and is around the baby’s neck
• There is some type of obstruction to the child’s airway
• The mother’s blood pressure was too high or too low

In some situations, oxygen deprivation during childbirth is due to the mistakes of a doctor or others in the labor and delivery room.

Consequences of Oxygen Deprivation During Childbirth

Oxygen deprivation can impact any organ of the body since all are dependent on access to oxygen to work properly. That means the symptoms of oxygen deprivation can range widely based on which organs are impacted. Some of the most common consequences include:

• Brain damage, which can lead to cognitive function limitations and nerve damage
• Bowel and kidney damage
• Lung damage
• Heart damage
• Cerebral palsy, which causes numerous complications in development and learning

Children with a lack of oxygen at birth may develop immediate distress, including stopping breathing. Other times, the child will have very low blood pressure or may not produce urine. In these situations, it is common for the child to suffer ongoing distress until they are given ample support to recover, if possible.

Over time, these consequences can become more evident than they are at the time of birth. This may include developmental delays, lower intellectual scores than peers, and a poor memory. Some children develop behavioral complications while others may develop abnormal physical function due to nerve damage.

Any time a child does not have access to enough oxygen, there is a risk for short-term and long-term implications to their health. As a result, doctors must act quickly to minimize these risks, monitor them, and act properly if they become evident.

If a doctor fails to do so in any way or causes oxygen deprivation, they could be held liable for the incident and the losses the child incurs. That makes oxygen deprivation a very important factor to consider as your child grows and develops if you believe they were at risk.

For help with issues of oxygen deprivation during childbirth, contact Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC at 503-862-8712 for a free consultation. We are here to help you.