Birth asphyxia can lead to short-term and lifelong damage to your child. A lack of oxygen needs to be remedied immediately. Doctors must act fast to prevent damage to your baby’s health. Birth asphyxia is treated by providing the mother or child with more oxygen and monitoring their health as they recover. However, there are many different ways that doctors do this. Knowing these and the causes of birth asphyxia can help you determine if you and your child are entitled to compensation from a birth injury.
How is Birth Asphyxia Detected?
Birth asphyxia isn’t always easy to detect, and an infant may have suffered from it yet show no visible signs of it. Therefore, doctors check a number of signs to determine if a newborn is experiencing it or if they have recently and require treatment for it. Indicators that a child suffered from birth asphyxia are as follows:
- No breathing
- Pale or bluish skin
- Low pulse rate
- Presence of meconium (fecal matter) in the amniotic fluid
- High acid levels in the newborn’s blood
- Weak reflexes or lack of responsiveness
- Poor muscle tone
Are you worried about birth asphyxia or was your child a victim? You can visit this website to learn more about birth asphyxia symptoms you should be aware of.
Birth Asphyxia Treatments
It’s vital that your child is treated fast if they are suffering from birth asphyxia, as any lack of oxygen for a prolonged period can lead to immediate and lasting damage. Treatments for birth asphyxia include but are not limited to the following:
Oxygen
A mother might be provided with additional oxygen while in labor to support the child if it’s known that the child is having breathing problems and suffering from birth asphyxia.
Assisted Ventilation and Medication
A newborn may be placed on a ventilator to help them recover from an episode of asphyxiation. They may also be given medications to assist in their recovery by moderating their blood pressure and further supporting their breathing.
Emergency Delivery (Caesarean Section)
Doctors may decide to go through with an emergency delivery with a Caesarean section, or a surgical cut made into the mother’s stomach if they believe a natural delivery would endanger the life of the mother or child.
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)
If a child is suffering from a severe lack of oxygen, then they may be attached to an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine. The child’s blood will cycle through the machine, which will remove carbon dioxide and from it and replace it with oxygen. The child will also be provided with oxygen as a form of treatment.
Can My Child Recover from Birth Asphyxia?
The ability of your child to recover from birth asphyxia depends on their health at the time of the incident and the overall severity of the oxygen deprivation. It also depends on the care that your doctors provide your child and how fast they discover that they were suffering from asphyxia.
Many children can make a quick and full recovery, while unfortunately, some do suffer permanent effects from the episode. If your child suffered from birth asphyxia long enough to suffer organ damage, their health will need to be continually monitored, as they may be at risk of further complications or even death.
Birth asphyxia is a serious incident that can cause lifelong problems for your family. You may be entitled to compensation if the incident occurred due to neglect by your care providers. Working with an experienced birth injury attorney can help you determine if you have a case to pursue. The compensation they can help you get can make life easier for you and your child.
