Signs of Fetal Distress Were Missed—Now What?
Your baby should’ve been monitored throughout labor and delivery. Now, something is wrong and no one can seem to tell you what. You’re left scared and anxious when you should be feeling happy and relieved.
When doctors and nurses miss critical signs of fetal distress, the consequences can be catastrophic—brain damage, cerebral palsy, developmental disabilities, or death. If your child suffered birth injuries because medical staff failed to recognize and respond to distress signals, that’s medical malpractice.
What Fetal Distress Looks Like
Modern medical technology gives healthcare providers clear warning signs when a baby is in trouble. Fetal heart rate monitors track every beat, showing patterns that indicate oxygen deprivation or other serious problems. Medical staff are trained to recognize these danger signs:
- Abnormal heart rate patterns—too fast, too slow, or lacking normal variability
- Meconium in the amniotic fluid, indicating fetal stress
- Decreased fetal movement during labor
- Umbilical cord compression shown on monitoring equipment
- Changes in the baby’s position that compromise blood flow
When these signs appear, immediate action is required. Delaying a necessary C-section, failing to reposition the mother, or ignoring monitor readings can deprive your baby of oxygen for critical minutes.
The Devastating Impact of Medical Negligence
Oxygen deprivation during birth causes permanent brain damage. Your child may face a lifetime of challenges—cerebral palsy that affects mobility and coordination, seizure disorders requiring constant medication, cognitive impairments affecting learning and development, and the need for round-the-clock care and medical intervention. These injuries don’t just affect your child—they impact your entire family emotionally and financially.
How Medical Staff Fail to Act
Hospitals and medical providers will claim they followed proper protocols, but the facts often tell a different story. Common forms of negligence include:
- Failing to properly interpret fetal monitoring strips despite clear warning signs
- Delaying emergency C-sections even when distress signals are present
- Inadequate staffing leading to dangerous gaps in patient monitoring
- Ignoring or dismissing concerns raised by nurses or family members
Medical records don’t always reveal the full picture. You need an attorney who will investigate what really happened in that delivery room.
Your Child Deserves Compensation
Birth injury cases require immediate action. Medical records can disappear or be altered. Witnesses’ memories fade. State law imposes strict deadlines for filing malpractice claims. Your child needs lifelong care, and that care costs money. Don’t let the hospital’s insurance company minimize what happened or pressure you into a quick settlement that doesn’t cover your child’s future needs.
The Law Offices of Tim Misny can help you with your birth injury claim. When medical negligence harms your baby, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call my office at (877) 614-9524 so that I can evaluate your case right away.
