New York Fetal Heart Rate Accelerations

The normal fetal heart rate is between 120-160 BPM. If the baby’s has a sustained heart rate of above 160 BPM, that is a cause for concern as fetal heart rate acceleration is often an indicator that the baby is in distress. It is incumbent upon the medical staff to determine the cause of the heart rate acceleration, referred to as tachycardia, and respond in an appropriate manner. Failure to properly respond to fetal heart rate accelerations puts the baby a danger of sustaining a severe personal injury. If your baby’s experienced tachycardia and also suffered a serious birth injury, contact an experienced New York birth injury lawyer to discuss your case as it is possible that medical negligence played a part in your baby’s condition. We will review your medical records and take steps to ensure that your legal rights are protected.

During labor and delivery the baby is closely monitored because there are a number of problems that commonly arise during the process, including:

• Hypoxia. Hypoxia occurs when the baby is not receiving enough oxygen. There are a number of reasons that this could happen such as an umbilical cord problem or a placenta problem. If the baby is not receiving enough oxygen, the baby’s heat rate may increase in order to help circulate more blood in order to receive more oxygen.
• Medication. Medications such as anticholinergic medications and sympathomimetic medications given to the mother can also cause the baby’s heart rate to increase.
• Infection. A maternal infection and lead to acceleration in the baby’s heart rate.
• Fetal congenital defect
• Maternal anemia. Anemia is an iron deficiency.
• Maternal hyperthyroidism
• Prematurity
• Maternal anxiety

If a baby’s heart rate significantly increases, that is usually a sign of fetal distress. Fetal distress means that the baby is not receiving enough oxygen. This can lead to serious birth injury such as irreversible brain damage. Thus, the response to fetal heart rate acceleration is often delivering the baby via emergency c-section.

If you believe that negligence in managing fetal heart rate accelerations resulted in your baby being seriously injured, staining a serious injury, it is a good idea to share your concerns with an experienced birth injury attorney in New York. While an increased heart rate can point to a number of problems, if a baby has a sustained increase in heart rate, the doctor should be concerned that the baby is in distress. This means that the baby is not receiving enough oxygen. Immediate delivery may be the best treatment. Failure to appropriate treat tachycardia may mean avoidable serious consequences for the baby such a brain damage. Babies who suffer from oxygen deprivation can sustain brain damage, leaving the baby with severe developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, and other serious life-long problems. With the help of a skilled attorney serving injury victims in New York, you can compel the negligent medical professional or medical facility to pay you compensation that will cover your child’s lifelong treatment, therapy, and other related expenses. You can also demand compensation for your child’s diminished enjoyment of life, diminished earning ability, and pain and suffering.

If you suspect that your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional mismanaged your baby’s heart rate accelerations, resulting in your baby suffering serious medical complications, do not hesitate to immediately contact an experienced New York injury attorney. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates have the experience, knowledge, and resources to investigate your claim and give you the help you need. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent clients in the following locations: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.