Our lawyers have protected birth-injury victims for almost four decades. Jonathan Schochor, a dedicated Columbia fetal acidosis attorney, and Kerry Staton, an equally skilled Columbia birth-injury lawyer, lead every investigation with meticulous care. We have secured multimillion-dollar recoveries for children harmed by oxygen deprivation at birth.
We stand beside Midlands families. From downtown Columbia and Forest Acres to Irmo, Lexington, and Blythewood, parents trust the fetal acidosis attorneys at Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. We arrange hospital record collection from Prisma Health Richland, Lexington Medical Center, or any facility involved, and we never charge for the initial consultation. Call (410) 234-1000. Our line is answered around the clock.
What Is Fetal Acidosis and How Does It Harm Newborns?
Fetal acidosis is a dangerous drop in a baby’s blood pH below about 7.35 before, during, or just after delivery. Excess acid builds up when the baby receives too little oxygen, and cells begin to produce lactic acid.
The consequences are severe. High acidity can injure brain tissue, trigger seizures, or lead to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and, ultimately, cerebral palsy. National surveillance data show that roughly one in 33 U.S. infants sustains a birth injury; fetal acidosis is among the most devastating because damage happens in minutes, not hours. Early recognition and rapid intervention are therefore critical.
How Medical Negligence Triggers Fetal Acidosis
Negligence causes fetal acidosis when providers ignore or mismanage warning signs. Obstetric teams must monitor fetal heart rate patterns continuously. When late decelerations or a “saltatory” pattern appears, the standard of care demands immediate action—usually repositioning the mother, providing oxygen, or ordering an emergency cesarean. Failing to act lets hypoxia progress to acidosis.
Jonathan Schochor, Columbia fetal acidosis lawyer, frequently uncovers chart entries showing delayed response times or misread heart tracings. Kerry Staton, another seasoned Columbia fetal acidosis attorney, often highlights improper Pitocin dosing that overstimulated the uterus, cutting off placental blood flow. In both scenarios, a timely decision could have prevented injury.
Common Delivery Errors That Lead to Oxygen Deprivation
Placental problems create silent danger. Abruption or insufficiency restricts oxygenated blood and lets acid accumulate.
Umbilical cord complications are equally harmful. Compression, prolapse, or a tight nuchal cord can strangle the oxygen supply within seconds.
Prolonged labor introduces risk. Shoulder dystocia, macrosomia, or malposition lengthen delivery, increasing stress and acidity in fetal blood.
Each issue above is predictable, detectable, and treatable. The Columbia fetal acidosis attorneys at our firm show juries exactly where the breakdown occurred and why prompt intervention would have protected the child.
Uncommon Scenarios Our Columbia Fetal Acidosis Lawyers Handle
Uterine rupture is rare but catastrophic. A previous cesarean scar can tear, halting blood flow within moments.
Tachysystole from excessive labor drugs squeezes the uterus so frequently that the placenta cannot refill with oxygenated blood.
Severe maternal crises such as eclampsia, massive hemorrhage, or amniotic-fluid embolism drop the mother’s blood pressure abruptly, starving the fetus of oxygen.
True knots in the cord occasionally tighten as the baby descends, cutting circulation unexpectedly.
Doctors must anticipate these emergencies, recognize them instantly, and act without delay. Jonathan Schochor, Columbia birth-injury attorney, has litigated precisely these scenarios, proving that vigilance prevents tragedy.
