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Seattle Nuchal Cord Injury Lawyers
Caring advocacy when birth injury malpractice harms your baby in Washington state
Every parent hopes that the delivery of their child will be an easy one. Yet, complications often arise. At Smith McBroom, we hold delivery doctors and hospitals accountable when they fail to anticipate complications such as nuchal cord injuries and fail to manage these umbilical cord emergencies competently. Our Seattle nuchal cord injuries have more than 20 years of experience filing medical malpractice claims against health providers. We work with skilled physicians who can explain what steps the delivery doctors should have taken and how your child’s injuries are now affecting their development and daily lives. Our lawyers also represent parents when nuchal cord injuries are fatal. Call us for help today.
How can we help?
- What is a nuchal cord injury?
- How do nuchal cord injuries occur in Seattle?
- What are the common types of injuries caused by a nuchal cord?
- Are there treatments for nuchal cord injuries in Seattle?
- Who is responsible for nuchal cord injuries in Seattle?
- What is the value of my child’s nuchal cord injury claim?
- Do you have a Seattle nuchal cord injury lawyer near me?
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What is a nuchal cord injury?
Birth delivery doctors need to anticipate the possibility of nuchal cord injuries during pregnancy and delivery. Without proper treatment, nuchal cord birth injuries can cause severe disorders such as cerebral palsy, brain damage, and death.
According to Medical News Today, a “nuchal cord occurs when the umbilical cord wraps around the fetal neck completely or for 360 degrees.” The risk factor during pregnancy of a nuchal cord incident is quite high. The term “nuchal cord” refers to the loop of the umbilical cord around the baby’s neck. “Nuchal” refers to the “nape or back of the neck.” The umbilical cord connects the fetus to the placenta which provides oxygen and nutrients. A nuchal cord can cause these essential ingredients not to reach the fetus – possibly causing catastrophic harm to your baby when your baby is born.
How do nuchal cord injuries occur in Seattle?
Cerebral Palsy (CP) Guidance states that nuchal cords occur in about 10% to 29% of all pregnancies.
According to Cerebral Palsy Guidance, the umbilical cord connects a mother and infant while the fetus is inside the womb. Single, double, and even higher numbers of loops are possible. Doctors can usually pull loose cords over the baby’s head during the delivery. Tightly wrapped nuchal cords generally require emergency measures such as a somersault delivery or a Cesarean.
Our Seattle nuchal injury lawyers review whether the pregnancy and delivery doctors looked for the risk factors for nuchal birth injuries which include:
- Excessive amniotic fluid
- A long umbilical cord or poor cord structure
- Twins or multiples
- Excessive fetal movement
The longer the cord, the more risk there is of the cord becoming wrapped in a coil around the fetus.
Generally, the age, race, and weight of the mother – and the sex and weight of the fetus are not nuchal cord risk factors.
What are the common types of injuries caused by a nuchal cord?
Nuchal cord injuries can cause brain damage that, according to CP Guidance, can create many disorders, including:
- Seizures
- Organ failure
- Heart disorders such as an abnormal heart rate
- High fever
- Delays in development
- Intellectual disorders
- Motor disorders
- Meconium aspiration syndrome that can affect a baby’s breathing and cause long-term respiratory disorders
- Infant death
Another possible complication is a prolapsed umbilical cord - where the cord drops through the cervix and descends into the birth canal. It can cause severe compression of the cord. The baby may not get enough blood and oxygen which can cause permanent brain damage. Immediate delivery is necessary.
Other complications include behavioral disorders, sensory impairments, communication difficulties, social difficulties, and the following birth injuries:
Three serious and similar complications of nuchal cord injuries include:
- Hypoxia. Hypoxia occurs when there are low levels of oxygen in a baby’s tissue. Hypoxia is life-threatening and requires immediate treatment.
- Birth asphyxia. Birth asphyxia occurs when a baby does not receive the oxygen the baby needs before, during, or directly after birth. Like hypoxia, immediate treatment is essential.
- Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE). Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy also refers to the condition where a baby’s brain does not receive sufficient blood and oxygen.
HIE is also referred to as birth asphyxia, perinatal hypoxia, and neonatal encephalopathy.
According to CP Guidance, nuchal cord injuries can also cause cerebral palsy.
Are there treatments for nuchal cord injuries in Seattle?
The first level of treatment is removing the nuchal cord through one of the following procedures:
- A somersault delivery. This type of delivery involves pushing the infant’s head to the side (instead of down), toward the mother’s thigh, during vaginal delivery – so there’s no further tightening of the umbilical cord – and so the doctor can unwrap the nuchal cord. “If the cord is left wrapped around the baby’s neck too long, serious consequences can occur. A physician may have to cut the umbilical cord sooner than recommended. Cutting an umbilical cord too soon may result in infant anemia.”
- A Cesarean delivery (C-section). This surgical procedure delivers a baby when a vaginal delivery cannot be done safely. A C-section has more risk than a vaginal delivery. The recovery time for a C-section is slightly longer than for a vaginal delivery.
Other treatments include untangling the cord during the delivery by moving the cord over the baby’s head, and clamping and cutting the cord after the delivery. The delivery medical team should monitor the baby’s heart rate and vital signs before and after observing the nuchal cord.
CP Guidance states that one common treatment for nuchal cord injuries is a cooling therapy called hypothermia therapy. This treatment involves reducing the body temperature of a baby who doesn’t get the oxygen it needs. Doctors “may use a cooling cap to reduce the brain temperature to around 91 degrees Fahrenheit.”
The second level of treatment is to treat the various complications.
Who is responsible for nuchal cord injuries in Seattle?
Generally, nuchal cord injuries are preventable if the delivery doctors competently loosen and manage the cord. At Smith McBroom, we file medical malpractice claims when the pregnancy team, delivery team, and hospitals – including obstetricians – fail to comply with appropriate medical standards for delivering a child.
Medical malpractice can include failing to discuss the risks with the mother, failing to perform an ultrasound, failing to understand what treatments should be used to remove the nuchal cord safely and at the correct time, failing to monitor the baby and other acts of negligence.
What is the value of my child’s nuchal cord injury claim?
Our Seattle nuchal cord injuries demand the following compensation when birth injuries occur:
- All medical costs to treat any injuries including any resulting brain damage
- Your baby’s pain and suffering
- Your baby’s inability to enjoy life
- The loss of any bodily function
- The parents’ financial losses in caring for their child
- Any other of your child’s financial or personal damages
We also file wrongful death claims if a nuchal cord injury causes a stillbirth.
Do you have a Seattle nuchal cord injury lawyer near me?
Smith McBroom is located at 16400 Southcenter Parkway, Suite #210, Seattle, Washington, 98188. We’re right off of I-5 and I-405, near Southcenter Mall. There is a bus stop near our office, and we offer free on-site parking.
We understand how upset you are and we’re here to answer your questions and guide you through each phase of the medical malpractice claim.
Speak with our experienced Seattle birth injury lawyers now
At Smith McBroom, we fight for newborns and their families. Our Seattle nuchal cord lawyers have helped people just like you hold physicians accountable for failing to properly fight for your child’s life and future. We can focus on the legal complexities while you focus on your child’s recovery. Call us or fill out our contact form today to schedule a meeting with one of our experienced attorneys.