A birth should be a joyous occasion, but sometimes, labor and medical errors lead to severe injuries. Although some complications are unavoidable, others result from preventable medical errors. Some of the most common medical mistakes leading to birth injuries include:
Mismanagement of the Umbilical Cord
Other serious issues unique to the umbilical cord that require immediate medical care include cord prolapse, cord compression, and nuchal (when the cord is around the baby’s neck). It’s vital to address these issues within a reasonable time frame; delays can result in oxygen deprivation, various types of cerebral palsy, and brain injuries.
The doctor must take quick action to avoid further complications. Umbilical cord problems that go on for too long can reduce the oxygen and nutrients that travel to the baby and so increase the risk of long-term developmental disabilities.
Improper Fetal Distress Monitoring
Medical staff must continuously monitor the baby’s heart rate and other vital signs during labor. Recognizing irregular heartbeat and lack of oxygen signals would prevent future complications resulting from brain damage.
Electronic fetal monitoring must be performed continuously to detect any irregularities requiring imminent medical intervention. If the healthcare provider fails to respond to fetal distress signals, the delay may lead to permanent damage.
Medication Errors
Misadministration of agents like Pitocin or Cytotec for induction of labor may increase uterine contractions to the point of rupture, causing fetal suffering or diminished blood oxygen. Inaccurate dosing of an epidural drug may likewise increase these risks to mother and baby.
The additional unwarranted drug usage may allow for the increased risk for emergency interventions; some emergencies are avoided by proper monitoring of fetal and maternal conditions and controlling dosages. Medical people involved must be very concerned with how a mother is doing on these drugs, modifying doses as needed to avert possible damage.
Failure to Diagnose and Treat Infection
Undetected maternal infections such as Group B Streptococcus (GBS) or untreated infections in pregnancy work like time bombs that, when released, cause crisis conditions such as sepsis, meningitis, or pneumonia in the baby.
Screenings for such infections must be done during pregnancy, as this will help to identify treatable conditions and implement early treatment before they cause problems for the newborn. Attending medical technicians must administer antibiotics to protect the mother and child from infections that could have been avoided.
Failure to Manage Maternal Health Conditions
Pre-existing conditions whereby diabetes, for example, becomes a problem that needs management in pregnancy and childbirth. If the conditions are neglected, complications might arise in terms of premature birth, low oxygen levels, high weight at birth, etc., all of which put a baby at risk of incurring serious injuries.
Once more, during pregnancy, doctors must support expectant mothers to keep these health conditions monitored and controlled to see that complicated and generally avoidable complications do not arise and create a situation of danger to both mother and baby.
Endnote
Enduring, profound effects on newborns and their families develop because of preventable birth injuries caused by medical mistakes. Healthcare providers should do everything possible to reduce the risk and maintain a competent standard of care, even though some complications cannot be avoided.
Parents can empower themselves by familiarizing themselves with potential birth traumas, pressuring medical providers for effective care, and, where negligence occurs, getting lawyers involved for legal recourse. Education on these types of medical errors will improve hospital protocols but will also assist in avoiding other occurrences like this in the future. With such openness, families can work toward holding medical professionals accountable for their actions and strive for a safe and responsible healthcare system.
