Fetal acidosis is a medical emergency that threatens a newborn’s brain and future. Our Germantown fetal acidosis lawyers Jonathan Schochor and Kerry Staton have spent four decades guiding Montgomery County families through this crisis with proven courtroom strategies and genuine care. We have recovered multiple seven-figure verdicts for children injured at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital and other facilities along the I-270 corridor. 

We know the medicine, the law, and the local hospitals. If your baby’s cord blood pH was below 7.35 or the APGAR score dropped without action, we can help. Call (443) 909-2792 for a free, no-pressure case review today.

What Is Fetal Acidosis?

Fetal acidosis is an excessive buildup of acid in a baby’s bloodstream caused by oxygen deprivation during labor or delivery. The fetus consumes oxygen rapidly; when that supply falters, cells release lactic acid, forcing blood pH below safe levels. 

Even a brief dip can injure delicate brain tissue, trigger seizures, or cause lifelong disabilities such as cerebral palsy. Doctors diagnose the condition with umbilical cord blood gases, fetal monitor tracings, or post-birth APGAR scores. Compassionate explanations and immediate interventions save lives; negligent delays cause tragedy.

What Causes Fetal Acidosis?

Oxygen loss drives every case. Common triggers include compressed or prolapsed umbilical cords, placental abruption, shoulder dystocia, and prolonged or hyper-stimulated labor. Maternal complications like preeclampsia, severe hypotension, or infection can also starve a fetus of oxygen. Most events are manageable when clinicians act quickly; they become malpractice when providers ignore alarms, misuse Pitocin, or postpone an emergency C-section.

Respiratory vs. Metabolic Acidosis

Fetal acidosis presents in two forms. Respiratory acidosis develops suddenly when carbon dioxide cannot escape, often from a tight cord loop. Metabolic acidosis builds slowly as prolonged hypoxia forces cells to burn fuel anaerobically, releasing lactic acid. The distinction matters: respiratory acidosis can resolve if the blockage is relieved fast, while metabolic acidosis signals extended deprivation and usually points to extended clinical inaction.

Signs and Symptoms of Fetal Acidosis

Abnormal heart rate patterns such as late decelerations, minimal variability, or bradycardia warn nurses that a fetus is struggling. In utero meconium, decreased movement, or frantic kicks often follow. After birth, red flags include low APGAR scores, weak cry, limp tone, bluish skin, seizures, or labored breathing. Families facing these frightening signs deserve swift medical answers and legal protection.

How Medical Negligence Causes Fetal Acidosis

Negligence creates or worsens fetal acidosis when providers disregard standards of obstetric care. Errors include:

  • Failing to read or respond to CTG tracings that show distress.
  • Overshooting oxytocin, causing uterine hyper-stimulation and hypoxia.
  • Delaying an indicated C-section despite clear fetal compromise.
  • Ignoring maternal hypotension after an epidural, which reduces uteroplacental flow.
  • Skipping cord-blood gas testing that would confirm acidosis and guide treatment.

We, the Germantown birth-injury attorneys at Schochor, Staton, Goldberg & Cardea, P.A., build cases around these preventable mistakes.

Common Malpractice Scenarios

  • Delayed C-section: Operating room staff fail to mobilize when tracings show persistent late decels.
  • Improper monitoring: Nurses silence alarms or document “re-assuring” patterns despite severe bradycardia.
  • Pitocin errors: Excessive dosing yields tetanic contractions, cutting off oxygen between waves.
  • Anesthesia mismanagement: Maternal blood pressure crashes after epidural; no rapid ephedrine or fluid bolus is given.
  • Placental issues ignored: Abruptio placentae signs—pain, bleeding—are dismissed until fetal compromise is irreversible.

Each scenario converts a survivable complication into a lifelong disability.

Uncommon Malpractice Scenarios

  • Misreading minimal heart-rate variability, a subtle but ominous sign.
  • Delayed response to an unexpected eclampsia seizure that interrupts oxygen flow.
  • Faulty fetal monitors that record flat lines—staff notice too late.
  • Contaminated intravenous fluids causing maternal sepsis and placental hypoperfusion.
  • Botched neonatal resuscitation when an intubation kit is missing or staff are untrained.

Our Germantown fetal acidosis attorneys have litigated these rare, complex events and secured justice.

Maryland Deadlines to File a Claim

Maryland law imposes strict deadlines. Parents generally have five years from the injury date or three years from discovery, whichever is sooner. For a child injured at birth, the clock pauses but cannot extend beyond the child’s eleventh birthday. Wrongful death actions must start within three years of death. Missing these dates forever bars recovery, making prompt consultation vital for Germantown families.

Compensation Available

A successful lawsuit can recover:

  • Medical expenses for surgeries, ICU stays, and lifelong care.
  • Rehabilitation costs—physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
  • Assistive equipment like wheelchairs, walkers, feeding tubes, and communication devices.
  • Home and vehicle modifications to accommodate mobility limits.
  • Lost wages when a parent must reduce work to provide care.
  • Pain and suffering for the child’s physical hardship and the family’s emotional toll.
  • Funeral costs and loss of companionship in wrongful-death cases.

Our Montgomery County birth-injury lawyers calculate future costs with economists and life-care planners to ensure no need goes unfunded.

Why Choose Schochor, Staton, Goldberg & Cardea?

  • Local knowledge and statewide reach. Our Baltimore-based team regularly handles cases arising at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital and Shady Grove Medical Center.
  • Record of success. We have obtained multi-million-dollar verdicts in birth-asphyxia and cerebral palsy cases.
  • Full-service advocacy. From filing with Maryland’s Health Care Alternative Dispute Resolution Office to trial, we manage every legal step.
  • Resource depth. We partner with neonatologists, placental pathologists, and fetal monitor experts to prove causation.
  • Compassionate guidance. We update you frequently, answer every question, and support your family long after the case concludes.

Attorney Biographies

Jonathan Schochor

Co-founder and Chairman of the firm since 1984, Jonathan has over 50 years of experience in medical malpractice trial work. He has been recognized multiple times in Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers, and he has a proven track record of securing record-setting verdicts in birth injury cases.

Kerry D. Staton

Kerry, a Managing Partner and fellow co-founder, is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate. He has been named Best Lawyers’ 2025 Baltimore “Lawyer of the Year” for medical malpractice plaintiffs and is known for achieving eight-figure recoveries in obstetrical injury cases.

Client Testimonials 

“Kerry Staton and Josh Kahn handled my case extremely well. From the first contact up to the outcome, along with team (sic), they were very professional and provided great counsel.” –Laetitia March-Nulton

“SSGC provided exceptional service with a perfect balance of professionalism and personable care. Their knowledgeable team explained every detail clearly, leaving no question unanswered. Their attention to detail and commitment to client success set them apart. Highly recommended for anyone seeking expert, legal guidance. Unmatched representation!” – David V.

Take the Next Step

Fetal acidosis is devastating, but your family is not alone. Contact our Germantown fetal acidosis attorneys at Schochor, Staton, Goldberg & Cardea, P.A., for a free consultation today. We will listen, explain your rights, and fight to secure every dollar your child needs. Call (443) 909-2792 or complete our secure online form now.