When a fetus shows signs that it may not be receiving enough oxygen, healthcare providers may use the term non-reassuring fetal status (NRFS), also known as fetal distress.
Because just minutes of oxygen deprivation can cause devastating birth injuries, including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), cerebral palsy, seizures, or even death, the warning signs of fetal distress should be taken extremely seriously.
If your baby shows signs of fetal distress, acting quickly is critical to preventing devastating consequences. Continue reading to learn the causes and warning signs of fetal distress, how healthcare providers should respond, and when it may become necessary to pursue legal action for medical negligence.
What Causes Fetal Distress?
The fetus receives oxygen through the umbilical cord and placenta. Any interruptions to this flow of oxygen can cause fetal distress.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, potential causes include:
- Umbilical cord prolapse: If the umbilical cord exits the womb before the baby, it may become squeezed by the baby’s body or the mother’s contractions, restricting blood and oxygen flow. This is a medical emergency that requires prompt delivery.
- Placental abruption: If the placenta partially or completely detaches from the uterus before delivery, the fetus’ oxygen supply may be reduced or cut off.
- Low maternal blood pressure: A significant drop in the mother’s blood pressure reduces the fetus’ oxygen.
- Excessive contractions: Too-frequent contractions can interfere with the fetus’ oxygen supply.
- Other pregnancy complications: Conditions such as preeclampsia, low amniotic fluid, or late-term pregnancy can increase the risk of fetal distress.
Fetal distress can occur before labor or during delivery. Some warning signs may be noticed by the mother, such as fewer kicks than usual. Others can only be identified through medical monitoring.
Important warning signs indicating fetal distress include:
- Slow fetal heart rate
- Decreased fetal movement
- Vaginal bleeding
- Significant abdominal pain or tenderness
- Appearance of the umbilical cord before the baby
If you experience any of these concerning symptoms during pregnancy, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
How Should My Doctor Respond to Fetal Distress?
When fetal distress is suspected, healthcare providers should act immediately to restore proper oxygenation. Depending on the circumstances, doctors may shift the mother’s position, administer IV fluids, or attempt to slow or stop contractions. In severe cases, emergency delivery or C-section may be necessary.
Not every warning sign means that a baby is in distress or will suffer an injury. However, abnormal findings should be promptly addressed to prevent devastating consequences.
Prolonged oxygen deprivation can cause serious injuries to a fetus, including:
- Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
- Cerebral palsy
- Seizures
- Permanent brain damage
- Stillbirth
These conditions can create significant challenges for children and their families. A child with severe birth injuries may require ongoing medical treatment, assistive equipment, special education, and lifelong care.
When fetal distress is caused or worsened by negligent medical care, pursuing compensation may be necessary to help a family address both immediate and future care needs.
How Does Medical Negligence Cause Fetal Distress?
Fetal distress itself does not necessarily mean medical malpractice has occurred. However, healthcare providers should be held liable if they fail to recognize or appropriately respond to signs of fetal distress, and that failure leads to preventable injuries, brain damage, or death.
Medical negligence that may lead to fetal distress includes:
- Failure to monitor fetal heart rate and movement
- Failure to monitor the mother’s condition
- Failure to diagnose umbilical cord prolapse or placental abruption
- Failure to communicate among the delivery team
- Failure to perform a timely delivery
Determining whether medical negligence contributed to your baby’s injuries requires a careful review of medical records, fetal heart rate recordings, the timeline of your provider’s actions, and the accepted standards of care.
Experienced birth injury attorneys will work with medical experts to determine whether your care fell below the accepted standard and whether that failure caused your child’s injuries.
Fetal Distress Attorneys in the Bay Area
When a baby suffers serious injury after fetal distress, families deserve answers, accountability, and support. At Bostwick & Associates, we have extensive experience handling complex birth injury and medical malpractice cases. Our birth injury attorneys can investigate what happened, analyze all fetal heart rate monitoring and medical records, consult with leading medical experts, and work to establish whether negligence caused your child’s injuries.
If your child suffered a preventable birth injury, our attorneys can help your family understand your legal options and pursue the compensation necessary to address your child’s needs. Contact us today for a free consultation.