Pregnancy, labor, and delivery all bring about different emotions for a family and there are plenty of reasons to be happy about the arrival of a baby. However, one potential issue that may exist is a lack of oxygen to the fetus, requiring emergency medical procedures.
It’s important for doctors to fully understand and recognize the signs and symptoms of fetal distress in order to determine when medical attention is needed. If medical professionals do not properly identify fetal distress, they run the risk of allowing serious birth injuries.
Signs That Must Be Monitored
These are just a few of the things that the medical professional may look for to determine if there is fetal distress.
- Decreased or no movement in the womb: For many mothers, one of the best feelings is that of their baby moving inside of the womb. When this movement is present or is very faint, it could be a cause for concern and the mother and fetus should be checked.
- Abnormal heartrate: Doctors most often check for the fetal heartrate during checkups. Part of this means ensuring that heartrate is normal and it is not too fast, too slow, decreasing, or delayed in returning to baseline following a contraction.
- Abnormal amount of amniotic fluid: During ultrasounds, the doctors may check the amniotic fluid levels to determine there is a sufficient amount. If there are low amounts of the fluid, it could lead to serious issues including cerebral palsy and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.
Other signs of fetal distress may include:
- Abnormal biophysical profile results
- Vaginal bleeding
- High blood pressure
- Cramping
- Abnormal weight gain in the mother
Build Your Case with Our Team
At Beam Legal Team, we recognize the potential problems that may exist as a result of doctor negligence and their failure to properly monitor a fetus. These doctors should be held accountable when they cause significant harm.
Our attorneys work hard to protect the rights of our clients every step of the way when they experience symptoms of fetal distress. When your child is harmed, know that our team is here to explain your options to you and work with you to seek the most favorable outcome possible.
Call our firm today at (866) 404-5221 to discuss your potential options.