Fetal monitoring is a critical part of the labor and delivery process. A fetal monitor can help a doctor or nurse ensure that the baby is not in distress. In addition to labor and delivery, fetal monitoring may be done throughout pregnancy to ensure that your child’s heart rate is normal.
At Bailey Cowan Heckaman, our lawyers understand how critical fetal monitoring is to a healthy delivery. When a healthcare provider fails to monitor a fetus, they may miss signs of distress that can lead to serious harm. If your baby suffered trauma at birth as a result of a doctor’s failure to conduct fetal monitoring, contact our office at (888) 367-7160 for a free consultation.
Fetal monitoring is one way that a healthcare provider can ensure that your baby is healthy. Fetal monitoring checks the baby’s heart rate for any abnormalities. A fetus with an abnormal or irregular heartbeat may indicate that there is a problem such as that they are not receiving enough oxygen or are in distress.
Types of fetal monitoring:
Fetal monitoring may be done periodically referred to as auscultation or continuously with electronic fetal monitoring.Â
Fetal monitoring is usually performed throughout the labor and delivery process to detect any signs of fetal distress. Heart rate monitoring may also be conducted during prenatal checkups.Â
If the fetal heart rate is abnormal (the normal heart rate for a fetus is 110 to 160 beats per minute) it may be a sign of a problem. A doctor may order additional tests to determine if the baby is in distress and what is causing the baby’s heartbeat to be irregular. One of the most common reasons a baby’s heart rate is abnormal is that they are not getting enough oxygen.
A doctor may need to order a cesarean section (c-section) to ensure that the baby is not in distress for a long period of time. Fetal distress caused by things such as a lack of oxygen can result in brain damage, paralysis, and stillbirth.Â
Fetal monitoring is crucial, particularly during the labor and delivery process. A failure to monitor the fetus’s heart rate can result in a devastating birth injury. A healthcare professional must not only monitor for signs of fetal distress, but they must also take action if the monitoring suggests a problem.
Types of fetal monitoring failures include:
If you suspect that your infant sustained harm because a doctor or nurse failed to monitor for fetal distress, you should speak with a qualified attorney. You might be entitled to compensation to cover your child’s medical bills, pain and suffering, and more.
Contact our office at (888) 367-7160 to speak directly with an attorney about your child’s fetal monitoring failure case. We offer free, no-obligation consultations. Our legal team proudly serves clients throughout Houston, having secured multiple, multi-million dollar recoveries on their behalf.