What Are the Possible Effects of Birth Asphyxia?

 Posted on June 18, 2021 in Birth Injury

Childbirth is a complicated process with many possible dangers for both the child and the mother. A serious problem that some newborns experience is birth asphyxia, a condition in which the infant cannot obtain sufficient oxygen during or after birth. Birth asphyxia can have many different causes, including problems with the placenta or umbilical cord, or complications with prolonged labor. If asphyxia affects your child, it is important to understand what this could mean for their health in both the short and long term.

Short-Term Symptoms and Effects

When a child is born, doctors use what is known as an Apgar score to gauge the baby’s health. To determine this score, doctors look for several indicators, including the child’s appearance, heart rate, reflexes, muscle activity, and breathing. Asphyxia can affect almost all of these indicators. For example, an infant who suffers from asphyxia often has discolored skin, a low pulse, and difficulty breathing. In most cases, doctors can recognize the symptoms of asphyxia and take action to address it as quickly as possible.

If birth asphyxia is not treated promptly, it can result in more serious health complications in the short term. The baby could experience seizures, blood clotting, high blood pressure, and acidosis, a condition in which there is excessive acid in the blood. Asphyxia can also cause organ failure, including in the liver, kidneys, and brain, and it may prove fatal soon after birth.

Long-Term Health Complications

Babies who survive severe birth asphyxia sometimes experience serious mental and physical health problems as they get older. Many of these issues are connected to brain damage due to a lack of oxygen to the brain. Some conditions that may be related to birth asphyxia include:

• Epilepsy, a condition resulting in recurring, unpredictable seizures throughout the child’s life 
• Cerebral palsy, a developmental disorder that can affect a child’s speech, senses, muscle control, and mental abilities
• Behavioral and cognitive disorders, including attention deficit disorders and autism spectrum disorders

These chronic conditions can impact a child’s life in many ways, and they can also result in substantial expenses for parents due to the child’s ongoing care and treatment needs.

Contact an Illinois Birth Injury Lawyer

At Birth Injury Law Alliance, Ltd., we help families who are coping with the effects of a wide range of birth injuries, including those related to birth asphyxia. We can help you find the resources and support you need to manage the challenges you may be facing. If your child’s birth injuries were caused by medical negligence, perhaps due to a birthing error or a failure to identify and address the signs of asphyxia, we can also help you recover compensation for damages. Contact our Chicago, IL birth injury attorneys today at 312-462-4200 to schedule a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/birth-asphyxia

https://www.healthline.com/health/asphyxia-neonatorum