Before, during and after childbirth, it is crucial that newborns receive sufficient oxygen circulation to the body and organs. Medical professionals are trained to monitor these oxygen levels, to recognize signs that a fetus is in distress, and to take timely action to reduce the potential adverse effects of oxygen deprivation when distress occurs.

Oxygen deprivation during birth is due to such birth complications as a breech birth, a placental abruption, a uterine rupture, umbilical cord compression, umbilical cord prolapse, or when the umbilical cord becomes wrapped around the baby's neck. Decreased oxygen may also occur when a mother's oxygen level or blood pressure is low. Inadequate oxygen levels can decrease a newborn's blood pressure, heart rate, and blood flow away from the heart, limiting the blood flow to vital organs and tissue. When this happens, irreversible neurological or cellular damage can occur.

It is important for medical providers to understand the signs of oxygen deprivation and know what actions to take if these symptoms present during childbirth. Medical staff typically can detect signs of fetal distress by using a fetal monitor to observe changes in a newborn's heart rate and rhythm. When distress is recognized, it is extremely important for healthcare providers to take immediate steps to prevent further oxygen deprivation, such as performing a Caesarean section or administering supplemental oxygenation. When doctors and nurses fail to do so, they may be found liable for their negligence.

The Chicago injury lawyers at Levin & Perconti have successfully handled a number of serious birth injury cases and can help achieve compensation for your child's injury. For example, our attorneys recovered a $2.3 million birth injury settlement for a newborn who suffered a serious brain injury at birth due to inadequate oxygen, resulting in cerebral palsy. In this case, the hospital staff failed to recognize that the child's mother was suffering a uterine rupture and failed to perform a Caesarean in a timely manner, despite the mother's complaints of a tearing sensation in her uterus.

If you believe that your child suffered oxygen deprivation at birth due to a healthcare provider's mistakes, please contact our Chicago birth injury lawyers at 312-332-2872 or 877-374-1417 or fill out our personal injury case intake form and an attorney will get back to you shortly. Our birth injury attorneys can efficiently investigate your claim to determine if your child's birth injury resulted from inadequate oxygen at birth due to medical malpractice.