As part of their medical training, OB/GYN doctors and nurses gain understanding
of what can go wrong during the delivery process and how to properly react
to such complications. In most births which take place at Texas hospitals,
few serious complications arise and a healthy baby debuts. Still, at times
there are more serious adverse events which can result in harmful birth injuries.
Some birth injuries and disabilities are caused by prolapse of the umbilical
cord. As most expecting mothers probably know, the umbilical cord serves
as the crucial physical connection between a mother and her unborn child.
The tube-like cord, composed of a vein and a pair of arteries, carries
nutrients to the fetus while taking away the baby’s waste.
In some cases, the umbilical cord will fall, or “prolapse,” through
a woman’s cervix and into her vagina. This causes a problem because
the cord is thus emerging ahead of the baby during birth. The cord may
then become pushed-up against the baby and cut off its oxygen supply.
In some instances a stillbirth may be the devastating consequence of an
umbilical cord prolapse.
An umbilical cord prolapse can be handled in several different ways, but
a physician must generally take action immediately in order to keep oxygen
going to the baby. A doctor can move the fetus away from the cord, or
perform an immediate Cesarean section. Typically, the longer the time
before action is taken, the greater the chances are for serious injury
or even death for the fetus.
A birth injury case involving umbilical cord prolapse can be complicated,
but parents may be entitled to compensation for injuries to the mother
or baby. A Houston birth injury lawyer can guide parents through the process
of holding a negligent doctor accountable for damaging or fatal umbilical
cord complications.