Richmond Attorneys Handling Malpractice Cases Involving the Wrongful Death of an Unborn Baby

Medical conditions that can cause injuries or the death of an unborn child

Common examples of complications which, if not treated appropriately, can cause irreversible injury or death to the child include:

Bleeding during pregnancy: placenta previa, placental abruption, and uterine rupture

During pregnancy, the placenta typically attaches to the top or side of the uterus. Some mothers develop a condition called “placenta previa,” where the placenta covers or blocks the cervix, causing vaginal bleeding. This condition requires bed rest, and close monitoring of the mother to help prevent premature delivery and placental abruption. Placental abruption is a true emergency that causes catastrophic bleeding and oxygen deprivation to the infant.

Uterine rupture is another emergent condition. This is a tear in the wall of the uterus that puts both mother and baby’s lives in danger. There is an increased risk of uterine rupture for mothers who go into labor after having a prior caesarean section – the contractions of labor cause separation of the scar from the prior incision. Uterine rupture can result from allowing high risk mothers to labor or the failure to timely deliver a macrosomic (i.e., large) baby. If a rupture goes undetected or untreated, both mother and baby can suffer life-threatening injury.

Decreased blood flow to the fetus: umbilical cord injury and preeclampsia

Proper blood flow is necessary to carry oxygen and other crucial nutrients to a fetus’ developing brain and organs. If that blood flow is reduced or cut off, organs start to shut down, leading to severe injury or death. This can be caused by umbilical cord injuries, such as prolapse.

It can also be caused by undiagnosed and/or untreated maternal medical conditions. Preeclampsia is a common condition in mothers that can cause reduced blood flow to the placenta. If doctors do not diagnose and treat conditions like preeclampsia correctly, the mother and baby can suffer serious injuries.

Oxygen deprivation

Oxygen deprivation, or hypoxia, occurs when the brain does not get enough oxygen. Hypoxia causes brain damage and can be fatal to a baby in the womb. Obstetricians and medical staff must be aware of the symptoms and warning signs that a baby is experiencing a lack of oxygen, and act immediately. Hypoxia is often caused by the umbilical cord wrapped around the neck, problems with the placenta, or a long and stressful labor and delivery.

Trauma during delivery

Complicated deliveries can lead to fatal birth injuries. When a doctor, nurse or midwife is not properly prepared to deal with a baby in distress, they can make negligent mistakes. Common errors include improper use of a vacuum extractor or forceps and improper or unnecessary caesarean sections. These can lead to life-threatening injuries to the newborn.

Other causes of fatal birth injuries include:

• Attempting a natural delivery when C-section is required
• Dropping the infant
• Excessively pulling at the baby’s head or limbs
• Failure to clear the baby’s airway properly
• Failure to detect fetal distress
• Failure to properly identify serious health conditions
• Improper fetal oxygen monitoring

Even one of the situations or conditions above can greatly increase the risk of injury and death to a newborn. Medical miscommunication and negligence can lead to more than one mistake, resulting in unnecessary loss and tragedy. At Phelan Petty, our Richmond lawyers investigate every detail of what happened and hold all parties accountable for your loss.