When talking about safeguarding your baby’s birth journey from the umbilical cord squeezed to an HIE brain injury, we must explain umbilical cord compression. For some families, little is known about cord compression in general, not to mention the role it can play in an HIE brain injury at birth.
For today’s post we will discuss three ways in which the umbilical cord can become squeezed or compressed. During labor and delivery, it is important to keep the lines of communication open with the medical professionals.
What Is A Squeezed Umbilical Cord?
A squeezed umbilical cord, or umbilical cord compression, can reduce blood flow to the baby. Generally during labor and delivery medical professionals will see a change in the baby’s heart rate as a first sign of cord compression.
In addition, there can be three ways in which cord compression can happen. First, if the cord wraps around the baby’s neck or other body parts, cord compression can happen. Second, if the cord gets tangled or knotted this can lead to cord compression. Finally, if the cord becomes trapped between the baby and the wall of the uterus, cord compression can occur. Cord compression is more likely to happen if a mother has low amniotic fluid or after the water is broken. This is because the fluid provides space for the cord to float freely. Once that water is gone the space is no longer present. Also, mom’s contractions during labor and delivery can sometimes compress the cord.
Safeguarding Your Baby’s Birth Journey From The Umbilical Cord Squeezed To HIE
The electronic fetal heart monitor can help doctors and nurses detect when a baby’s cord might be compressed. A reading called a late deceleration can appear on the strip. If continuous late decelerations are present this can be a sign of serious problems for a baby. When cord compression is suspected doctors and nurses may get you to change position to relieve pressure on the cord. A soft and flexible catheter might be used to put fluids back into the uterus. If these measures are still not working, then an emergency C-section may be needed.
HIE, or hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy is a reduction, or cut-off of oxygenated blood which can lead to a brain injury. A review as to whether medical malpractice caused a baby’s HIE brain injury will investigate things like if there are late decelerations, and if there are, what was done to resolve this issue. If there is no genetic or developmental cause of the HIE brain injury, then negligence must be investigated as a possibility. When talking about safeguarding your baby’s birth journey from the umbilical cord squeezed to an HIE brain injury, these are some of the critical issues that are present.
To speak with me further about the cause of your baby’s HIE brain injury at birth, contact me at my info below. Remember there is no money cost for you to talk with us initially about your baby’s story.
Marcus B. Boston, Esq.
9701 Apollo Dr. Suite 100
Largo, Maryland 20774
301-850-4832
1-833-4 BABY HELP
