Tag: hie medical diagnosis

Understanding Birth Injuries, Cerebral Palsy, and Newborn HIE

Posted on by Loni Liss

The birth of a child is a moment filled with hope and joy, but for some parents, it may come with unexpected challenges. Birth injuries such as Cerebral Palsy or Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Newborn (HIE) can bring confusion, heartache, and countless questions.

If you’re navigating this difficult path, understanding what happened during your child’s birth—and whether medical negligence may have been involved—is critical.

At The Yost Legal Group, we are here to provide you with the guidance, investigation, and answers you need to protect your child’s future.

If your baby has an HIE medical diagnosis, call us for a free and confidential consultation at 1-800-967-8549.

A birth injury is damage sustained by an infant during labor and delivery

What Is a Birth Injury?

A birth injury is damage sustained by an infant during labor and delivery. These injuries can range from:

  • minor, temporary conditions
  • more severe forms of harm
  • developmental delays
  • lifelong disabilities

Some birth injuries can occur despite the best medical care. However, others may result from improper medical decisions and actions during the birthing process.

When an infant's brain is deprived of oxygen during delivery

What are the common causes of birth injuries?

Birth injuries can happen for various reasons, but some common causes include:

  • Restricted oxygen flow (birth asphyxia): When an infant’s brain is deprived of oxygen during delivery, it can result in conditions like HIE and Cerebral Palsy. The lack of oxygen can cause a hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy hie injury.
  • Untreated infections: Failing to identify and treat maternal or fetal infections can lead to complications before or during labor.
  • Improper use of delivery tools: When tools like forceps or vacuum extractors are misused, they can cause physical trauma or damage to the baby.
  • Delayed emergency responses: Failure to recognize and act on signs of fetal distress, such as abnormal heart rates, can have devastating outcomes.

These situations do not always constitute negligence, but when medical professionals fail to meet the standard of care required, the results can be life-altering.

An HIE lawyer can explain the steps in filing a birth injury lawsuit. Our cerebral palsy lawyers have many years of experience. We help parents get financial compensation for their child’s care. This support can last a lifetime.

How is neonatal HIE diagnosed

How is neonatal HIE diagnosed?

HIE (hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy) is often suspected in newborns shortly after birth due to alarming signs like seizures, difficulty breathing, blue lips and/or skin color, and low or no muscle tone (often called “floppy” or “floppy baby”) or complications during labor and delivery. Diagnosing HIE requires swift action and the use of various medical tests, which include:

  • Blood Tests: These assess oxygen levels, electrolytes, enzymes, and other crucial markers in the blood to help confirm HIE.
  • Umbilical Cord or Placenta Testing: Analyzing blood from the umbilical cord or examining the placenta can help determine the root cause.
  • Lumbar Puncture: A sample of cerebrospinal fluid is taken from the lower back to check for possible infections.
  • Head Ultrasound: This evaluates brain activity to detect bleeding or fluid buildup.
  • EEG (Electroencephalography): Conducted within a baby’s first day, this test measures brain activity for abnormalities.
  • Brain MRI: Performed between days 4–7 post-birth, an MRI identifies areas in the brain affected by damage.

Symptoms of HIE may not always be immediately apparent. Children with mild symptoms might be diagnosed later in life when developmental delays or motor function issues become evident. If you notice any concerns, consult your child’s healthcare provider to assess symptoms, review health history, and perform a physical exam.

Prompt detection is critical—if you suspect HIE, seek medical evaluation immediately.

Define hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a critical condition where a newborn’s brain doesn’t get enough oxygen or blood flow during labor and delivery or shortly after birth.

The terms explain Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy:

  • Hypoxic = Insufficient oxygen
  • Ischemic = Insufficient blood flow
  • Encephalopathy = Brain disorder

This type of brain injury can lead to varying outcomes. Some children experience no lasting effects, while others may face permanent disabilities or, in severe cases, death.

The extent of harm depends on factors such as the duration of oxygen deprivation and the specific parts of the brain that the deprivation impacted. HIE medical abbreviation stands for Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

If you have questions about your HIE infant, call The Yost Legal Group for help. We will investigate what happened and why, and if negligence was involved, we will file a birth trauma lawsuit.

Birth injury cases are complex and require experienced cerebral palsy attorneys to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. We are here to listen, support, and guide you in the best way possible to support your child.

Key Symptoms of HIE:

  • Breathing difficulties
  • Low heart rate
  • Seizures or unusual movements
  • Weak muscle tone
  • Inability to regulate body temperature
  • Blue or pale skin
  • Poor reflexes
  • Reduced activity or alertness
  • Abnormal blood glucose levels

HIE is also known as birth asphyxia, perinatal asphyxia, or neonatal encephalopathy.

Take Action Immediately

If your newborn has shown any potential signs of HIE, it’s essential to seek medical evaluation promptly. Early intervention can make a significant difference. Consult with a healthcare provider to learn about treatment options and next steps.

Was my baby’s birth injury caused by a medical mistake?

Determining whether your child’s injury was linked to medical negligence is key to getting answers and seeking justice.

Here are some signs that may indicate mistakes were made during your child’s birth:

  • Unclear or inconsistent explanations: If healthcare providers cannot adequately explain why your child was injured, there may be more to investigate.
  • Complications during delivery: Events like prolonged labor, failure to perform a timely C-section, or incorrect use of medical equipment may point to errors.
  • Delayed or missed diagnoses: Some injuries, such as HIE, may stem from an undiagnosed condition, such as a slow fetal heart rate (bradycardia), that could have been prevented with timely action.

If you suspect that a preventable issue caused your child’s birth injury, speaking with an experienced birth injury lawyer can help you uncover the truth.

How Can a Birth Injury Lawyer Help?

Navigating the legal system and understanding medical terms can feel overwhelming. This is where an experienced birth injury lawyer steps in. Here’s how we can support you:

  • Investigation and analysis: We partner with medical experts to review your records and identify whether a mistake occurred.
  • Advocacy for your child: A birth injury lawyer will fight for compensation to cover your child’s medical expenses, therapy, and long-term care.
  • No upfront costs: At The Yost Legal Group, our consultations are free, and you pay no fees unless we win your case.

Our team has years of experience handling birth injury claims nationwide. We understand the emotional and financial toll these situations take on families, and we are here to help you every step of the way.

Protect your child’s future after an HIE diagnosis

If you think your child’s birth injury was caused by medical negligence, don’t wait to take action.

Birth injuries like Cerebral Palsy or HIE demand immediate attention to ensure your child gets the care and resources they need.

Contact The Yost Legal Group for a free, confidential consultation. Our experienced birth injury attorneys are ready to help you.

We will uncover answers, seek accountability, and secure the financial support your family needs.

Call us at 1-800-967-8529 today.

Let us fight for justice—because every child deserves a fair start.

Hypoxia in Newborns – Asphyxia in Newborns – Hypoxic Infant – HIE Neonates

Understanding Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)

Posted on by Loni Liss

Each year, 30,000 newborn babies face health complications during the birthing process. One of the most severe conditions that can occur during childbirth is Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE). This is a condition that affects a baby’s brain due to lack of oxygen.

This condition requires immediate medical attention and treatment in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). A traumatic birth experience can cause an HIE medical diagnosis as well as a cerebral palsy diagnosis.

A medical mistake can sometimes cause a traumatic labor and delivery. If your child has an HIE diagnosis, it is important to contact an HIE attorney. The Yost Legal Group helps families affected by a hypoxic birth injury and other types of childbirth trauma.

What is HIE?

Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) refers to brain damage or injury caused by oxygen deprivation during birth. An HIE brain injury occurs when the baby does not get enough oxygen to the brain or blood flow before, during, or after delivery.

If left untreated or not diagnosed promptly, HIE can lead to long-term disabilities such as:

– cerebral palsy

– developmental delays

– seizures

– and death

traumatic birth medical malpractice

What are the signs and symptoms of Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)?

The symptoms of HIE vary depending on the severity of the injury.

Some common signs include:

– difficulty breathing or abnormal breathing patterns

– low muscle tone or limpness

– seizures or convulsions

– poor reflexes or response to stimuli

– an abnormal level of consciousness.

The causes of HIE can be due to various factors, such as:

– umbilical cord problems like prolapse or compression

– maternal infections

– placental abruption

– prolonged labor

– premature rupture of membranes

– medical negligence

Neonatal cooling is a treatment for babies with HIE

What are treatment options for HIE?

Hypothermia therapy is the only way to treat HIE. It lowers body temperature to prevent more harm to brain cells.

Cooling techniques can include a cooling blanket for whole-body cooling or a selective head cooling process. Hypothermia therapy should be initiated as soon as possible, preferably within six hours of birth.

In addition to hypothermia therapy, other supportive treatments such as oxygen therapy, seizure management, and monitoring vital signs are also necessary. A baby with HIE will require a nursing care plan, including working with a medical team providing significant medical care.

What is a usual nursing home plan for Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)?

If you are a parent of a baby with cerebral palsy (CP) or Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), it is essential to understand the nursing home plan for your child’s condition. HIE can result in long-term neurological damage.

A nursing home plan consists of various therapies and interventions that aim to improve the quality of life of children with HIE.

  1. Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is an integral part of the nursing home plan for children with HIE. The goal of physical therapy is to help children gain strength, improve mobility, and enhance gross motor skills. Physical therapists work on improving balance, coordination, and muscle tone through exercises such as stretching, crawling, standing, and walking.

  1. Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy focuses on improving fine motor skills, such as grasping objects and hand-eye coordination. Children with HIE often struggle with basic activities such as holding utensils or coloring because of their limited dexterity.

Occupational therapists help improve skills by doing activities like playing with blocks or drawing.

  1. Speech Therapy

Speech therapy assists children with HIE in enhancing their communication skills. This therapy is beneficial for children who have difficulty speaking or rely on non-verbal methods due to their condition.

Speech therapists work on establishing communication through various techniques, such as sign language or picture exchange communication systems (PECS). They also focus on strengthening mouth muscles used in speaking and swallowing.

  1. Feeding Therapy

Feeding difficulties are common in children with HIE due to poor muscle control around the mouth or throat region. Feeding therapy aims at addressing these issues by teaching proper feeding techniques, such as chewing and swallowing, and addressing any difficulty in reflux or other digestive issues.

  1. Behavioral Therapy

Behavioral therapy is an essential part of the nursing home plan for children with HIE who may have developmental or behavioral issues due to their condition. Behavioral therapists work on the following:

  • improving social skills
  • managing behavior
  • addressing any emotional or mental health concerns that may arise

Understanding Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)

How The Yost Legal Group Can Help

At The Yost Legal Group, our attorneys for birth injury know the challenges your family will face with an HIE diagnosis. Our experienced HIE lawyers are committed to helping families like yours.

If you file an HIE lawsuit, we will investigate what happened during the birthing process. If we uncover that the standard of care was not met, we will work to secure a financial recovery to cover your child’s medical care.

Our experienced team of birth injury lawyers will review all medical records and dig deep to get to the truth. It is important to us that your baby has the best quality of life possible.

If we prove that a medical mistake was made, we will seek justice for you and your family. Recovering the financial compensation needed to provide lifelong care for your child is what we do.

Our birth injury attorneys know that dealing with the legal process while caring for your newborn can be overwhelming. We are here to help you every step of the way.

Our medical malpractice lawyers take a systematic approach towards seeking justice for you and your family.

We investigate your case thoroughly. The Yost Legal Group has 40 years of experience helping parents understand the complex legal process and advocating for their child’s future.

You don’t have to face HIE alone. The Yost Legal Group is here to help.

Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) is a serious condition that can affect newborns during childbirth due to oxygen deprivation.

It requires immediate medical attention and treatment in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Cooling techniques such as hypothermia therapy are effective in reducing further damage to the brain cells.

If your child was diagnosed with HIE, contact The Yost Legal Group at 1-800-Yost-Law for a free consultation. An experienced birth injury lawyer will determine if your child’s birth injury was due to medical negligence during the delivery.

 

Understanding Birth Injuries. What New Parents Need to Know

Posted on by Loni Liss

The birth of a child is a life-changing event. As a new parent, you want nothing but the best care for your baby during labor and delivery. However, sometimes things can go wrong, and the baby can sustain injuries during birth. According to recent studies, birth injuries occur in about 7 out of every 1,000 births in the USA. Some of these injuries are preventable.

Protecting families after a serious birth injury

Birth injuries can happen during a difficult delivery if the baby is larger than average or if complications arise during pregnancy or delivery.

The most common birth injuries include cerebral palsy, brachial plexus injuries, and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

–      Cerebral palsy is caused by brain damage and affects muscle control and movement.

–      Brachial plexus injuries occur when the nerves that control the arm and hand are damaged during delivery.

–      HIE is a type of brain injury that can occur when the baby does not receive enough oxygen during delivery. HIE can lead to long-term issues such as seizure disorders, cerebral palsy, restricted brain and skull growth, and developmental delays.

Baby in NICU after suffering a birth injury.

Top reasons for fetal distress

As new parents, it’s important to know the top reasons for fetal distress. This knowledge can help you recognize signs of distress and take action to ensure you and your baby are safe and healthy.

Preventing birth injuries requires good communication between the OB/GYN and the hospital staff. Doctors and nurses must carefully monitor the baby’s vital signs during delivery and identify potential complications early on.

  1. Placenta Problems

The placenta is responsible for delivering oxygen and nutrients to the baby during pregnancy. Any problems with the placenta can lead to fetal distress.

–      Placental abruption occurs when the placenta separates from the uterus, causing bleeding and compromising the baby’s oxygen supply.

–      Placenta previa is where the placenta covers the cervix and blocks the baby’s path out of the uterus. It is another condition that can cause hemorrhage and compromise the baby’s oxygen supply.

These conditions require immediate medical attention to prevent serious harm to the baby and mother.

  1. Umbilical Cord Issues

The umbilical cord connects the baby to the placenta and carries oxygen and nutrients to the baby.

–      If the cord becomes compressed, twisted, or detached, it can restrict blood flow and cause fetal distress.

–      Conditions like nuchal cord occur when the cord wraps around the baby’s neck, causing compression and reduced oxygen supply.

–      Umbilical cord prolapse is another serious condition where the cord slips through the cervix before the baby, increasing the risk of oxygen deprivation and brain damage.

  1. Infection

Infections in the mother during pregnancy or in the baby during delivery can lead to fetal distress. For example, chorioamnionitis is an infection that affects the placenta and fluid around the baby, causing inflammation and reducing oxygen supply.

This infection can lead to premature birth and brain damage if left untreated. It’s important for expecting mothers to practice good hygiene and get regular prenatal care to prevent infections that can affect the baby.

  1. Maternal Health Problems

Certain health problems in expecting mothers can lead to fetal distress. For example, preeclampsia is a condition that causes high blood pressure and damage to organs like the uterus and liver.

Preeclampsia can lead to a decrease in blood flow to the placenta, causing fetal distress. Mothers with diabetes also have a higher risk of fetal distress due to the impact on blood sugar levels and increased likelihood of a large-bodied baby.

It’s important for pregnant women to maintain a healthy lifestyle and get regular checkups to monitor these health problems.

If a baby is experiencing fetal distress, doctors must act quickly to deliver the baby safely. In some cases, a C-section may be the best option. OB/GYNs and hospital staff can also use tools such as forceps and vacuum extractors carefully to avoid injury to the baby during delivery.

Fetal distress during labor and delivery leading to cerebral palsy diagnosis.

Did your baby have a cerebral palsy diagnosis?

Hearing a cerebral palsy diagnosis about your newborn infant is devastating as a new parent. You may ask yourself, why did my baby suffer brain trauma at birth? You may wonder if a medical mistake during childbirth caused your child’s birth injuries.

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that affects movement and coordination. It can have a significant impact on your child’s life.

There are many possible causes of cerebral palsy, and not all cases are a result of medical malpractice. However, medical errors during the birthing process can lead to cerebral palsy.

–      If the hospital labor team fails to detect fetal distress during labor and delivery

–      If a doctor improperly uses medical equipment like forceps or a vacuum extractor

–      Lack of oxygen to the brain during birth can cause cerebral palsy.

Any of these mistakes can result in a brain injury from birth leading to cerebral palsy. It is essential to speak with an experienced attorney for cerebral palsy. At The Yost Legal Group, we can help determine the cause of the condition.

Our cerebral palsy lawyers are highly experienced and will review all medical records about your child’s birth injury. An experienced birth injury law firm can file a medical malpractice lawsuit on your behalf.

Experienced birth injury lawyers with a track record of success

If you suspect that your baby’s birth injury could have been prevented, speak with an experienced birth injury lawyer. A birth injury attorney can review the medical records and help determine whether a medical mistake was made during delivery.

If a medical error is made, our birth injury team will work to get a lifetime of care for your child. At The Yost Legal Group, our experienced birth trauma lawyers are here to help you in this difficult time.

If your baby has been diagnosed with a birth injury, you want to know what happened. With an HIE diagnosis or an infant brain injury, we will look into the risk factors. A CP lawyer will fight on your behalf to secure the funds to pay for your child’s care.

At The Yost Legal Group, we have successfully filed thousands of birth injury lawsuits when medical mistakes were made.

We can help you navigate the complex legal system and work to ensure your family receives the financial compensation you need to care for your child. Contact us today at 800-967-8529 for a free consultation.

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