What Birth Injuries Can Lead to the Death of a Child?

Tragically, some families leave hospitals without their newborns, devastated by fatal birth injuries that might have been prevented. These cases involve profound loss. Parents are left with overwhelming grief and difficult questions: “Why did this happen? Could someone have prevented it?”

Birth injuries can rob parents of their children – when this happens, families might need a birth injury attorney to help them find answers.

Birth injuries vs. birth defects

First, we need to get our terms straight. Birth injuries happen right in the delivery room, during labor and while the baby is being born. That’s totally different from birth defects, which develop while the baby is still growing inside the mom. The CDC has a whole page explaining birth defects. The difference is extremely important when you’re trying to figure out whether a medical mistake contributed to the loss of your child.

The statistics tell us around six to eight out of every 1,000 newborns suffer some kind of birth injury. Most babies recover just fine, thank goodness. But in the worst situations? A family that walked into a hospital expecting the happiest days of their lives walks out shattered, without their baby.

When this happens, families have questions. It’s important to look into why the tragedy occurred and to hold those who caused the loss of that baby accountable for their injuries.

Recent victory: $5 million birth injury verdict

Our firm recently secured a $5 million verdict for a family devastated by a preventable birth injury. We know that no amount can ever replace a child. The goal of these claims is to fight for accountability from the providers. This verdict acknowledges the tremendous loss suffered by the family, gives them a voice, and acknowledges that their child matters. It also helps put medical providers on notice – their errors and negligence will lead to financial losses.

Fatal birth injuries due to oxygen deprivation

A baby’s developing brain can’t tolerate oxygen loss. Not even for minutes.

Interruption in oxygen and blood flow

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) happens when a baby’s brain doesn’t get enough oxygen and blood during birth. Brain cells quickly die in these conditions.

Signs include:

• Breathing irregularities
• Worsening seizures
• Unstable heart rate
• Non-responsiveness

What causes HIE? Sometimes, medical teams miss fetal distress indicators on monitors. They may wait too long to perform emergency C-sections. Other times, umbilical cord problems aren’t addressed promptly. Each minute matters.

Complete oxygen deprivation

Full oxygen deprivation (perinatal asphyxia) creates an immediate life-threatening emergency. Unlike HIE’s reduced oxygen, this means zero oxygen reaches the brain.

Warning signs include abnormal fetal heart patterns that should trigger immediate intervention. Babies experiencing prolonged asphyxia face brain damage or death within minutes – not hours.

Cases often involve fetal distress patterns that weren’t addressed quickly enough. These situations are particularly heartbreaking because they’re often preventable. A birth injury attorney can examine the medical records to determine if protocols were followed during these critical moments.

Fatal birth injuries due to physical trauma

Sometimes, the physical process of birth or the tools used to assist it cause fatal injuries.

Skull fractures

Forceps and vacuum extractors save lives when used correctly. When used improperly, they can cause devastating skull fractures. These injuries appear as visible depressions, lumps, or swelling on a newborn’s head.

Depressed skull fractures particularly concern medical experts because bone fragments can directly damage brain tissue. Excessive force – pulling too hard, at wrong angles, or in inappropriate situations – can lead to fatal outcomes. These cases often involve clear deviations from the standard of care. A birth injury attorney can often identify indications that something like this might have occurred.

Brain hemorrhages

Brain bleeds (intracranial hemorrhages) represent another potentially fatal birth injury. These can result from physical trauma, oxygen deprivation, or sudden blood pressure changes.

Babies with brain hemorrhages often exhibit:

• Lethargy
• Irritability
• Shallow breathing
• Feeding problems

Premature babies face particularly high risks for intraventricular hemorrhage – bleeding into the brain’s fluid-filled spaces. The smaller the baby, the greater the danger. When medical professionals fail to take appropriate precautions with premature deliveries, a birth injury lawyer may need to review whether the providers’ actions were negligent.

Other fatal birth complications

Other complications during childbirth can turn deadly without proper management:

Placental abruption

When the placenta tears away from the uterine wall before delivery (known as placental abruption), oxygen and nutrients to the baby are cut off. Mom might experience abdominal pain, back pain, contractions, or bleeding.

Studies emphasize immediate intervention when abruption is suspected. Doctors who miss these signs might fail to perform emergency C-sections when needed, resulting in stillbirth or neonatal death.

Many cases involve reported abruption symptoms that weren’t properly addressed. These situations are particularly tragic because prompt action could save lives.

Umbilical cord emergencies

The umbilical cord is literally the baby’s lifeline. Problems like prolapse (cord coming out before the baby) or compression can turn fatal alarmingly fast.

Medical professionals must respond within minutes to cord emergencies. Even brief delays can mean the difference between life and death. Proper fetal monitoring should detect these problems, allowing for immediate intervention.

When medical negligence plays a role

Not every birth injury stems from negligence. Sometimes, complications arise despite everyone’s best efforts. But certain patterns of medical negligence recur in fatal cases:

• Missing critical changes in fetal vital signs
• Delaying necessary C-sections
• Improper use of delivery tools
• Medication errors during labor
• Overlooking maternal conditions affecting the baby

Healthcare providers must follow established standards of care. When they don’t, families deserve answers. Medical records, fetal monitoring strips, and staff notes provide crucial evidence. An experienced birth injury attorney knows how to analyze these complex documents.

Recognizing when you need a birth injury attorney

Some indications that preventable errors might have contributed to the loss of a child include:

• Unexpected emergency interventions
• Medical staff appeared confused or unprepared
• Vague explanations about what happened
• Avoidance of detailed discussions about the baby’s death

These are complex cases, both medically and legally. While no compensation replaces your baby, holding negligent parties accountable might prevent similar tragedies for other families. Settlements often cover medical expenses, funeral costs, emotional trauma, and other losses.

Finding answers and moving forward

Birth should bring joy, not devastation, however, for families who have suffered these losses, understanding what happened matters deeply.

If your family is facing this tragedy, please know two things: You’re not alone, and you deserve answers. A qualified birth injury attorney can investigate thoroughly, determine if negligence played a role, and guide you through your options with compassion.

These matters demand sensitivity and care. For a confidential consultation about your situation, contact our experienced birth injury attorneys today. We don’t charge unless we win your case, and the initial consultation is free.