When a baby experiences oxygen loss before, during, or immediately after birth, the results can be a severe birth injury. Oxygen deprivation during birth can cause disabilities, sometimes temporary but often permanent. The severity of the outcome depends on how long the baby’s brain and other organs were deprived of oxygen, and how quickly medical professionals responded to the emergency.
In some cases, prompt medical intervention can prevent long-term harm. But when oxygen deprivation is not recognized or properly treated, it can lead to lifelong disabilities that affect the child’s ability to move, think, communicate, and grow independently.
How Oxygen Loss Happens During Birth
Oxygen loss during labor and delivery, which is sometimes referred to as birth asphyxia or perinatal hypoxia, occurs when a baby’s brain or body doesn’t receive enough oxygen to function properly. This medical condition can happen before birth (prenatal), during the birthing process (intrapartum), or immediately afterward (postnatal).
Common causes of oxygen loss during birth include:
- Umbilical cord complications, such as compression, prolapse, or wrapping around the baby’s neck.
- Placental abruption, when the placenta separates from the uterus too early.
- Prolonged or difficult labor that reduces blood flow to the baby.
- Failure to monitor fetal distress, such as changes in heart rate.
- Delayed C-section when an emergency procedure was necessary.
- Improper use of anesthesia or delivery tools that disrupt normal oxygen flow.
Each of these situations requires quick recognition and intervention from the medical team assisting with the birth. Delays of even a few minutes can mean the difference between a healthy child and one who faces lifelong challenges.
Disabilities Linked to Oxygen Deprivation
When the brain is deprived of oxygen, even briefly, it can cause significant damage to developing neural tissues. The effects may not always be visible immediately, but often become clearer over time as the child grows.
Some of the most common disabilities linked to oxygen loss at birth include:
- Cerebral palsy (CP): CP affects muscle control, movement, and coordination. Severity ranges from mild motor difficulties to complete paralysis.
- Developmental delays: Oxygen loss can impair brain development, leading to delays in walking, talking, or other milestones.
- Cognitive impairments: Problems with memory, attention, and learning ability are common when oxygen deprivation affects areas of the brain responsible for thinking and processing.
- Seizure disorders: Babies who suffer oxygen loss may develop epilepsy or other seizure-related conditions.
- Hearing and vision problems: Damage to the brain’s sensory centers can interfere with sight and hearing.
- Behavioral and emotional disorders: As children age, they may experience difficulties with impulse control, focus, or social interaction.
While the symptoms vary widely, what they have in common is that many are preventable when medical providers act appropriately during childbirth.
Diagnosing Oxygen-Related Disabilities
In the first few hours or days after birth, oxygen deprivation is often diagnosed through:
- Low Apgar scores, which assess a newborn’s breathing, color, reflexes, and heart rate.
- Abnormal brain imaging (such as MRI scans) that shows areas of brain injury.
- Seizures or low muscle tone shortly after delivery.
- Difficulty feeding or persistent lethargy in newborns.
However, in some cases, the effects of oxygen deprivation don’t appear right away. Parents may first notice developmental delays or abnormal movements as the child grows.
What Families Can Do Next
If your child was diagnosed with a disability linked to oxygen loss, the first step is to schedule comprehensive medical care and evaluation from specialists. Early diagnosis and intervention, including therapy, medications, and educational support, can make a difference in a child’s development and potential recovery. Once the child’s immediate health needs are addressed, families may want to seek legal guidance to determine whether medical negligence contributed to the injury.
Birth injury attorneys who focus on oxygen-deprivation cases might be able to help by:
- Obtaining and reviewing medical records.
- Consulting independent medical experts.
- Identifying potential lapses in care.
- Pursuing accountability through legal action, when appropriate.
Find Answers After an Oxygen-Related Birth Injury
If your child’s disabilities may be linked to oxygen deprivation during delivery, you deserve to understand what happened and what your options are. Families in Rhode Island & Massachusetts can trust the attorneys of Decof, Mega & Quinn, P.C. for compassionate and experienced legal counsel. We take pride in standing up for families who have been harmed by medical errors, and many of our largest case results have been for birth injury clients. See how we can help you, too.
Call (401) 200-4059 to get a free and confidential case evaluation.