Practice Areas
Blog 
Birth Injury
- Indicators of Medical Malpractice For Birth Injuries; Kingston, Medical Malpractice Attorney Discusses
- Breaking News: Landmark Case Finds Standard Defense in Obstetrical Medical Malpractice Cases as Scientifically Invalid!
- FL Wrongful Birth Medical Malpractice Case Yields $4.5 Award; Repercussions in New York?
- Most OB-GYN Guidelines are Based on Opinion and Weak Information!
- Smoking and Birth Defects Are Now Definitively Linked! Click Here To Find Out More!
News
Posted on 2/8/2012
Posted on 12/15/2010
Posted on 4/7/2010
Posted on 4/5/2010
Library
Birth Injury
- Birth injury is preventable in most cases in Kingston, New York
- Learn what you can expect in each stage of your labor and delivery in Kingston, New York
- Spotting signs of fetal distress can be crucial to the prevention of birth injuries in Kingston, New York
- Find out why you may not want to induce your labor in Kingston, New York
- Learn the warning signs of a placenta abruption and be prepared for his potentially fatal complication in Kingston, New York
Spotting signs of fetal distress can be crucial to the prevention of birth injuries in Kingston, New York
The term, "fetal distress", is hated by the medical community...and for good reason. Fetal distress is a term used to indicate that your baby is not getting enough oxygen during your pregnancy and the lack of oxygen to your baby can cause long-term neurological injuries, cerebral palsy and death.What are the signs of fetal distress? The most reliable sign of fetal distress is very old school: the mother's instincts. It is often the case that mom knows better than any physician that her baby is in trouble and this is often revealed by decreased movement of the baby felt by the mother. If the baby is not moving in the mother's womb, this is the number one sign of fetal distress and that the baby may need to be delivered pronto.
What else to look for? The fetal heart rate pattern provides valuable clues about the baby's status. When an electronic fetal monitor is attached to the mother's abdomen, a continuous tracing of your baby's heart can indicate that your baby is in distress. The fetal heart rate should range between 100 and 160 beats per minute; a fetal heart rate that is either too low (less than 100 beats per minute) or too high (over 160 beats per minute) can indicate that your baby is not receiving enough oxygen and may need to be delivered.
There are two key terms to remember about fetal heart tracing: late decelerations and variable decelerations. They are both bad for your baby. Late decelerations means that the decrease in the fetal heart rate from the baseline rate has a lag time of twenty seconds from the peak of the contractions to the bottom of the fetal heart rate deceleration. Persistent late decelerations in the fetal heart rate tracing is a sign of fetal distress.
Variable decelerations in the fetal heart tracing refers to decreases in the fetal heart tracing from the baseline rate that are non-uniform changes that bear little relationship to uterine contractions. Variable decelerations are a sign of fetal distress since they are a deviation from the steady pattern of uterine contractions and heart decelerations that are a sign of fetal well-being.
When an electronic fetal monitor (EFM) is applied to your abdomen, you should ask your doctor, nurse midwife or labor and delivery nurse whether the fetal heart tracings have any late decelerations or variable decelerations. If there is a persistent pattern of late decelerations or variable decelerations over the course of two minutes, your baby is likely not getting enough oxygen and may need to be delivered.
Another sign of fetal distress is the presence of meconium in the amniotic fluid. Meconium is discoloration of the amniotic fluid caused by your baby's first stool. If the amniotic fluid appears green after the mother's membranes have ruptured, your baby may be in trouble.
What do you do if there are signs of fetal distress? Fetal distress is often temporary and can be resolved with simple measures such as turning the mother on her left side, administering oxygen by mask and performing a vaginal examination to check for a prolapsed umbilical cord. If these interventions do not improve the signs of fetal distress, your care providers must be ready for an emergency cesarean section.
Every minute counts when there is fetal distress. Long term neurological injuries, cerebral palsy and disability can result if signs of fetal distress are ignored or neglected by your care providers. You should be familiar with the signs of fetal distress and most importantly, trust your instincts if you have a gut feeling that something is wrong with your baby.
Free Book
The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims
ONE BIG PROMISE
You will not be another of the 98,000 victims of medical malpractice in the United States in 2009 if you read my FREE BOOK. I have a book that will tell you why most victims of medical malpractice never recover a penny. If you are the victim of medical malpractice, we will rush this free, valuable information so you know what to do. If you don't call now, you have only yourself to blame.
You will never have to worry about medical malpractice again if you call this toll-free number, 866-889-6882, for your free book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, and an audio CD of the book, or you can request the book here and the book will be rushed to you immediately at no cost.
(New York residents only)
Connect With Us
Are we friends on Twitter and Facebook yet? I regularly post tips and advice about medical malpractice that I know you’ll enjoy. Click the links and let’s connect!
Free Case Evaluation
Begin your case review by filling out the form below or call us at 866.689.9692
John H. Fisher
130 North Front Street
Kingston, New York 12402-3058
Phone: 518.265.9131
Fax: 845-331-2004
Toll Free: 866.889.6882
Get Directions
Contact Info
John H. Fisher
130 North Front Street
Kingston, New York 12402-3058
Phone: 518.265.9131
Fax: 845-331-2004
Toll Free: 866.889.6882