Oregon Nuchal Cord Complications Due to Medical Malpractice

The birth of a baby is a joyous event in the lives of the parents and other family members. Most people are fortunate to not anticipate that complications will occur during their child’s birth, unless a known abnormality has already been detected and addressed. Unfortunately, there are mothers and fathers every day who excitedly get ready to meet their child, only to encounter a complication that will change their lives forever. One example of a complication that can occur, causing significant brain damage and other injuries to the baby is nuchal cord. If nuchal cord is identified and the baby is injured, it is considered to be negligence for nuchal cord complications.

 

What is Nuchal Cord?

 

When a baby has nuchal cord, it means that the umbilical cord is wrapped around their neck. It is quite common but potentially serious. Nuchal cord refers to cases where the cord is wrapped around the neck once, while double nuchal cord refers to the umbilical cord being wrapped around the baby’s neck two times. Nuchal cord can be very dangerous as strangulation or oxygen deprivation can occur, especially during the birth of the child. 

 

Complications Due to Nuchal Cord

 

There are many problems that can occur as the result of nuchal cord complications. As mentioned above, nuchal cord can cause the baby to become strangled or can cause significant oxygen deprivation. Examples of complications due to nuchal cord include the following:

 

• Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
• Cerebral palsy
• Brain damage 
• Fetal death
• Meconium in the amniotic fluid, potentially leading to meconium aspiration syndrome
• Umbilical artery acidemia
• Developmental delays
• Learning disabilities
• Intrauterine growth restrictions
• Abnormalities of the fetal heart rate
• Epilepsy

 

These are just a few of the many potential complications that may result from nuchal cord. 

 

Nuchal Cord Risk Factors

 

Risk factors of nuchal cord include the following:

 

• Very active fetus
• Overabundance of amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios)
• Poorly structured umbilical cord
• Insufficient amount of wharton’s jelly present on the baby’s umbilical cord
• The baby has a long umbilical cord 

 

How Can Nuchal Cord be Diagnosed?

 

When the baby is term, nuchal cord can be diagnosed via ultrasound in most cases. Failure to perform appropriate ultrasounds or failure to identify nuchal cord on an ultrasound where it is present is considered medical malpractice.

 

How Can Nuchal Cord Complications be Due to Medical Malpractice?

 

There are many reasons as to why nuchal cord complications may be caused by medical malpractice. These reasons include (but are not limited to) the following:

 

• Failing to identify fetal stress during labor and delivery
• Failing to perform an emergency c-section if necessary
• Failing to perform a scheduled c-section if conditions surrounding the nuchal cord pose a great threat to the baby
• Failure to provide appropriate medical care in the prenatal period, leading to complications due to nuchal cord 
• Failing to identify nuchal cord on ultrasound (if present at the time of the ultrasound)

 

Ask Our Medical Malpractice Lawyer for Help With Issues Related to Nuchal Cord Compressions in Oregon

 

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.