Umbilical Cord Prolapse Injury Lawyers in Philadelphia

What Causes Umbilical Cord Prolapse

The most common cause of umbilical cord prolapse is a premature rupture of the membranes that contain the amniotic fluid, which surrounds and protects the fetus while it is growing in the uterus. In cases where this rupture occurs before the 32-week mark, cord compression often results.

Other contributing factors include:

• Premature birth
• Multiple pregnancy
• Abnormally long umbilical cord
• Excessive amniotic fluid
• Breech delivery or other abnormal presentation

What Good Doctors Should Watch For

Cases of overt prolapse are easy to diagnose — the cord will be visible or able to be felt by medical staff before the presenting part of the baby gets delivered. With occult prolapse, the cord descends alongside the presenting part of the baby. This can require more careful observation, accomplished by monitoring fetal heart rate and taking appropriate action for any signs of fetal distress, like a sudden and prolonged heart rate deceleration.

Before labor, an ultrasound or fetal Doppler can be used to identify a prolapsed or compressed cord. Though the signs of prolapse during childbirth may be confused for other delivery complications, an attentive medical staff will be prepared to make an emergency C-section regardless.

The Dangers of Umbilical Cord Prolapse

Umbilical cord compression and prolapse can have serious implications for a newborn. The consequences may include:

• Permanent brain damage
• Cerebral palsy
• Developmental delays
• Cognitive deficits
• Death

What to Hold Doctors Accountable For

Competent physicians should be able to diagnose umbilical cord prolapse before it becomes an issue, and implement an emergency C-section with minimal risk to the child. The standard of care requires a fetal heart monitor, with careful attention paid to the baby’s heart rate through childbirth — not using one can be termed as negligence.

When prolapse is detected, attending physicians may attempt to deliver the baby vaginally, sometimes with the help of forceps or a vacuum extractor. But often an emergency C-section will be indicated, and attempting vaginal delivery is no excuse for a delayed C-section. Doctors should be prepared for every eventuality.

To prove medical negligence, it must be clearly established that a birth injury was the result of a breach of care on the part of the attending physician. Most often, establishing medical negligence requires the testimony of an expert medical witness, able to verify that the defendants’ conduct fell short of the accepted medical standard, and that this lapse in care was responsible for the infant’s injury.