The labor and delivery process is a very complicated one. There are some many factors and areas of concern. This is why OB/GYNs and family care practitioners spend a significant amount of time studying, interning, and practicing the entire childbirth process. There are also many other healthcare professionals that assist labor and delivery physicians, including nurses, technicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and many others. Even though there are a lot of factors to consider, one of the most basic factors to consider is blood pressure of both the mother and baby. But particularly of the mother who is supporting the baby. Our Oregon birth injury lawyers explain why this is so important and how birth injuries caused by low blood pressure could result in catastrophic personal injury to the baby.
Low blood pressure for a mother is dangerous. Normal blood pressure is 120/80, and low blood pressure is typically 90/60. When blood pressure is lower, it can result in a decrease in perfusion, or flow of blood through the body. This blood flow is not just necessary for oxygen, but also nutrients, fluids, and clearing carbon dioxide. When perfusion is low, the body is both receiving less good resources and retaining more bad resources for longer. This is a bad combination.
There are many potential causes of low maternal blood pressure. These causes may be due to natural factors, such as contractions, hormones, and the process fo giving birth. These causes could also be due to factors such as a greater maternal age, heavier body mass, number of pregnancies, baseline blood pressure or heart rate, and other related factors.
But low blood pressure could also be caused by actions or inactions of a healthcare professional. This includes some of the following:
Each of these factors and any other factors causing low maternal blood pressure could be due to Oregon medical malpractice causing birth injuries.
Low maternal blood pressure, or hypotension, is very dangerous for a newborn. This is because a newborn is receiving less nutrition, oxygen, fluids, and other life-sustaining substances from the blood which is being defused through the placenta at a lower rate of speed. Because of this, babies could sustain hypoxic injuries, or injuries due to a lack of oxygen.
This includes hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE. HIE is a very dangerous condition which could result in catastrophic injury to a newborn. Low maternal blood pressure could cause or contribute to HIE, including causing life-changing and life-threatening injuries.
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form. We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.
Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles, St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.
We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.
Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law.