Hypoglycemia Birth Injuries Due to Medical Malpractice in Oregon
Understanding When Medical Malpractice Causes Hypoglycemia Birth Injuries
While the birth of a child is an exciting event for the parents to be, sometimes the birth does not go as planned. There are times when the mother encounters unexpected complications, and there are times when the baby becomes at risk for injury during delivery. When these complications occur, it is vital that the physician or other healthcare provider identify these complications and treat them promptly to avoid harm to the mother or child. One potential complication that may occur during the labor and delivery of a newborn is hypoglycemia. While this can be easily treated, if the healthcare provider fails to treat the hypoglycemia, it can cause injury to the baby. Oregon medical malpractice causing hypoglycemia birth injuries could be a serious problem.
What is Hypoglycemia?
Hypoglycemia is the occurrence of a person’s blood glucose level falling below normal. Both the mother and baby are capable of experiencing an episode of hypoglycemia. The normal range for blood glucose levels in an adult are 60-100mg/dL. In newborns, hypoglycemia is considered to be any glucose level below 40mg/dL.
Risk Factors of Newborn Hypoglycemia
There are some risk factors that may put a baby at risk for hypoglycemia. These include the following:
- Premature birth
- Macrosomia (large for gestational age)
- Infant has a mother with diabetes
- Infant is worth with hypoxia
- Infant who is born requiring oxygen
- Infant born with hypothyroidism
- Stressful birth
- Babies born with a low birth weight
- Babies born with an infection (i.e. sepsis)
What are the Symptoms of Hypoglycemia in Newborns?
Symptoms of hypoglycemia in newborns may include the following:
- Irritability
- Shakiness
- Sweating
- Seizures
- “Floppy” muscles
- Pale skin
- Cyanotic skin
- Apnea
- Rapid breathing
- Grunting
- Vomiting
- Poor feeding
- Inability to regulate temperature
How is Hypoglycemia Diagnosed and Treated in an Infant?
Hypoglycemia can be easily diagnosed with a blood glucose test. If the baby is found to be suffering from hypoglycemia, the baby is often given glucose through an IV to increase the baby’s blood glucose level. If this is not an option for some reason, glucagon can be administered.
What are the Symptoms of Hypoglycemia in Mother’s?
Symptoms of hypoglycemia in a mother may include the following:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Hot flashes
- Shaking
- Sweating
- Confusion
- Visual changes
- Irritability
- Anxiety attacks
- Extreme hunger
Complications from Hypoglycemia
If an infant’s hypoglycemia is not diagnosed promptly, it can cause many serious complications, including the following:
- Brain injury
- Brain damage
- Seizures
- Heart failure
- Learning disabilities
- Cerebral palsy
- Vision problems
- Developmental delays
How Can Complications from Hypoglycemia be Caused by Medical Malpractice?
While hypoglycemia can be easily treated, time is of the essence when it comes to identifying and treating this condition. If a newborn suffers complications due to hypoglycemia, it is important to identify if the condition could have been prevented. Examples of medical malpractice related to hypoglycemia include the following:
- Failure to treat a mother’s condition
- Failure to identify a mother’s condition
- Failure to treat a baby’s condition
- Failure to diagnose a baby’s condition
- Delay in treating or diagnosing condition
Ask Our Portland Hypoglycemia Birth Injuries Lawyer for Help
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.