When a baby suffers a preventable injury during labor, the consequences can last a lifetime. One of the most common causes of birth injuries is improper fetal monitoring, which is where medical staff fail to adequately track the baby’s well-being throughout the delivery process.
In many of these cases, the harm in question could have been avoided if the medical team had followed the appropriate standard of care. Georgia law allows families to pursue monetary damages when a birth injury results from medical negligence.
If your child was harmed due to monitoring failures during delivery, learning about how these claims work is an important first step.
What Is Fetal Monitoring?
Fetal monitoring is the process of tracking a baby’s heart rate during labor to detect signs of distress. It is standard practice in hospitals across Georgia and throughout the country. The most common method is electronic fetal monitoring (EFM), which uses sensors placed on the mother’s abdomen to continuously record the baby’s heart rate patterns along with the timing of contractions.
If the monitor shows signs of trouble, such as a sudden drop in heart rate, the medical team is expected to act quickly. For example, that response might look like performing an emergency cesarean section. The goal is to prevent the baby from being deprived of oxygen for a dangerous length of time.
Common Signs of Fetal Distress During Labor
During labor, fetal monitoring is used to identify warning signs that a baby may not be tolerating the stress of delivery. These signs often appear as changes in the baby’s heart rate pattern and can indicate that the baby is not getting enough oxygen.
Some of the most common signs of fetal distress include:
- Abnormal heart rate, such as a rate that is consistently too high (tachycardia) or too low (bradycardia)
- Reduced variability in the heart rate, which can indicate the baby is not responding normally
- Decelerations, particularly late decelerations that occur after contractions, which may suggest oxygen deprivation
- Variable decelerations that can point to umbilical cord compression
- The presence of meconium in the amniotic fluid, which may indicate that the baby experienced stress during labor
When these warning signs appear, the medical team is expected to evaluate the situation and take appropriate action. A failure to recognize or respond to these indicators in a timely manner can increase the risk of serious birth injuries.
How Can Improper Fetal Monitoring Lead to a Birth Injury?
Fetal monitoring errors can happen in several ways during labor. Some of the most common failures include:
- Failing to place the monitoring equipment correctly, leading to inaccurate readings
- Not paying close enough attention to the monitor output during active labor
- Misreading the data and failing to identify patterns that indicate fetal distress
- Recognizing a problem but delaying the decision to intervene
- Failing to communicate critical changes in the baby’s condition to the delivering physician
As alluded to above, these mistakes can lead to prolonged oxygen deprivation for the baby. That deprivation can, in turn, lead to serious conditions like hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).
What Kinds of Compensation Can Families Recover Through a Birth Injury Claim?
Georgia law allows families to seek both economic and non-economic damages in birth injury cases. The types of compensation available will ultimately depend on the unique facts and circumstances of the case at hand. However, in general, these claims can add up to substantial amounts since these injuries often require ongoing care.
Overall, some examples of available damages include:
- Past and future medical expenses related to the child’s condition
- Costs of long-term rehabilitation and specialized care
- Assistive devices and home modifications needed to accommodate the child’s needs
- The child’s diminished future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering experienced by the child
Punitive damages might also be awarded in rare cases that involve egregious misconduct. These damages are meant to punish the at-fault party and discourage similar behavior in the future.
Contact Georgia Baby Safety To Schedule a Free Consultation With an Atlanta Birth Injury Attorney
Improper fetal monitoring can lead to serious birth injuries that are devastating for the entire family. Georgia law provides a path for holding negligent healthcare providers liable in these circumstances, but there are strict legal requirements and deadlines that must be met.
Call Georgia Baby Safety to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Atlanta birth injury lawyer today for more information. The sooner you reach out for legal help, the better for the success of your case.
We are proud to serve clients throughout Atlanta, Fulton County, and the surrounding communities.
The Moses Firm
3490 Piedmont Rd NE #1206, Atlanta, GA 30305
404-995-6033
Available 24/7