Everything You Need to Know About Birth Asphyxia
The birth of a child is a miraculous occasion that should be full of excitement and joy. However, when complications arise during the birthing process, there could be potentially serious consequences for the baby. One complication is birth asphyxia. This condition can occur before, during or immediately after birth, and it requires immediate intervention otherwise there are serious risks to the newborn’s health. Here is a short article about everything you need to know about birth asphyxia.
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What is Birth Asphyxia?
Birth asphyxia is also referred to as neonatal asphyxia or perinatal asphyxia, and it occurs when a baby is deprived of oxygen either before the delivery process, during it, or straight after birth. It happens when the brain and other vital organs don’t receive enough oxygen, and it can result in difficulty breathing and potential damage. Early detection and timely intervention is required to ensure the best possible outcome for the baby. If this condition isn’t addressed immediately, there could be long-lasting and severe consequences for the baby. In the worst-case scenario, birth asphyxia can cause permanent damage to the body, or it can even lead to death.
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Symptoms of Birth Asphyxia
Common signs of asphyxia include:
- Unusual skin coloration
- Weak or irregular breathing
- The infant not making a sound
- Poor muscle tone or limpness
- Poor reflexes
- Low heart rate or blood pressure
- Seizures
- Low Apgar scores (an assessment of a newborn’s condition)
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Different Causes of Birth Asphyxia
There are various reasons why birth asphyxia could occur. These include placental complications or umbilical cord issues that disrupt the oxygen supply to the infant, and maternal health conditions that increase the risk of asphyxia, like diabetes and preeclampsia. A difficult delivery or prolonged labor can also cause birth asphyxia to happen.
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Birth Asphyxia Caused By Negligence
Birth asphyxia can also occur due to errors or medical negligence during the birthing process. In this case, it’s important to get advice from a birth asphyxia attorney. A skilled birth asphyxia attorney should have vast experience in medical malpractice and birth injuries and can offer expert guidance to help your case. They can assess your situation and determine if you have grounds for a claim. They will help you get compensation for ongoing care, therapy, medical expenses, and damages caused by medical negligence. Furthermore, with a specialist attorney, you will receive the legal counsel you need to get justice on behalf of your baby.
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Treatment Options
As mentioned earlier, immediate medical intervention is required to minimize potential complications and damage. Besides this, medical professionals may try neonatal resuscitation techniques to help the baby to breathe. This can include clearing the airways and using a respirator. A cesarean delivery might be recommended too. If the case is severe, they might need to be supplied with one hundred percent oxygen in a hyperbaric oxygen tank. Medical professionals may also try to cool the infant’s body down and prevent brain damage with induced hypothermia, or they might use life support.
