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Hypoxia: a birth injury that can have lifelong consequences

Sep 3, 2020 | Medical Malpractice

Many mothers dream about who their children might be in the future. However, if a child suffers hypoxia during labor or delivery, they may face a future of lifelong health concerns. How can this injury impact children and families?

Why can hypoxia occur?

Hypoxia occurs when a child’s brain does not receive enough oxygen. This lack of oxygen can occur due to a wide variety of different conditions, including:

  • Infections
  • Genetic heart conditions
  • Umbilical cord injuries or prolapse
  • Abnormalities in the blood vessels within the brain
  • Shoulder dystocia, an injury in which the child’s shoulder becomes stuck during labor
  • Placenta injuries or disorders

For children suffering from hypoxia, their health often depends on medical professionals treating the condition quickly. With proper treatment—whether that treatment involves cooling therapy to ease swelling or children can make a full recovery.

Hypoxia can do lifelong damage to a child.

While recovery is possible, lack of oxygen to a child’s brain can lead to a variety of lifelong conditions if not treated quickly and properly. Hypoxia can damage a child’s brain and lead to cerebral palsy, cognitive disabilities and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). These conditions may require costly lifelong treatment to support the child.

If your child suffered a hypoxia injury as a result of a negligent doctor or nurse, you do not need to face this burden alone. It is possible to get the financial help you need to support your child through a medical malpractice lawsuit.