WHAT HEALTH PROBLEMS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH BIRTH HYPOXIA?

Birth hypoxia occurs when the fetus does not receive sufficient oxygen to the brain. This has been known to cause fetal brain injury, the most serious being hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), or perinatal asphyxia. An article from Medscaperevealed that, depending on the severity of HIE, babies can show certain symptoms such as seizures, excessive crying or sleepiness, lethargy, irregular breathing, stupor, or coma.

However, a majority of babies with the most severe case of HIE do not survive. In fact, according to an article published by The Janov Primal Center For Treatment, up to 75% of infants with severe HIE die of multiple organ failure or lung infections. Those who survive often grow up with symptoms such as mental retardation, epilepsy and cerebral palsy.

Research from the Janov Primal Center further shows the fetus’ growth is slowed down when birth hypoxia occurs in early gestation, resulting in a low birth weight for the baby. Those with lower birth weight grow up to suffer from various health problems such as depression, anxiety, phobias, suicidal thoughts, shyness, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension.

The University of Maryland Medical Center suggests that certain tests can determine the cause of the hypoxia, which can usually be diagnosed based on the person’s medical history and a physical exam. These include angiograms, blood tests, CT scans, echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, evoked potentials (tests that determine whether certain sensations such as vision and touch reach the brain) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

If your newborn child suffered birth hypoxia injuries due to a doctor or hospital’s negligence , you may be entitled to compensation. Seeking the guidance of an experienced attorney is vital in protecting your rights.  Contact Barovick Law for the representation you deserve. Call (914) 761-1133.