A detached placenta and HIE are two serious types of medical conditions that can be encountered in some pregnancies. Although these conditions are not typical for most pregnancies and labor and deliveries, they still must be diagnosed and treated accordingly when they occur. In today’s discussion we will talk about placental abruption and HIE (hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy) from a medical legal point of view.
A Detached Placenta (Placental Abruption)
The placenta is important in the development of a baby. It develops in the uterus and is responsible for oxygen a nutrients. In addition, the placenta removes waste products from a baby’s blood. The umbilical cord, another important part of a baby’s development attaches to the placenta.
When the placenta detaches, this can cause problems for mother and baby in certain instances. For example, bleeding can occur for some women when the placenta detaches. The level of detachment can determine how much a mother might bleed. If the detachment is significant it can lead to massive hemorrhaging. Below are some risk factors for placental abruption:
- Older Age Mothers (40 and over)
- A Previous Placental Abruption
- High Blood Pressure
- Smoking
- Certain Infections
A Detached Placenta And HIE
Bleeding from mother has a chance of negatively impacting the baby and that is because the baby is dependent on mom for a lot of survival functions. If mother is losing blood, then there is a chance that the baby can lose blood and oxygen too. The condition HIE is a reduction in blood and oxygen which can lead to a brain injury.
Placenta issues which manifest during labor and delivery can show up with certain readings on the electronic fetal heart monitor. The strips from the monitor might move from a reassuring strip to a non-reassuring strip. It is imperative that doctors and nurses diagnose these conditions and look to treat accordingly.
As I mentioned above, even though placental abruption is a rare condition, it can be serious, and much will depend on how much the placenta has detached. If you have more questions regarding your baby’s brain injury following a detached placenta, this is what I invite you to do. Pick up the phone and call me. My information is below and I would be happy to listen to your baby’s story.
Marcus B. Boston, Esq.
2 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 700
Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815
1-833-4 BABY HELP
