Fetal acidosis is a life-threatening complication that can leave a newborn facing seizures, cerebral palsy, or worse. When a joyous birth at Shady Grove Medical Center or Holy Cross Germantown Hospital turns into an emergency, parents deserve clear answers and real help.
At Schochor, Staton, Goldberg & Cardea, P.A., Potomac fetal acidosis lawyer Jonathan Schochor and Potomac fetal acidosis lawyer Kerry Staton draw on more than four decades of birth-injury litigation and over $1 billion in client recoveries to give families both. Call (410) 234-1000 for a free, no-pressure consultation today.
Why Parents Search “Potomac Fetal Acidosis Lawyer”
Potomac families deliver more than 11,000 babies each year along the I-270 corridor. One act of negligence in any of those deliveries can change a child’s life forever. Parents turn to experienced birth-injury counsel to uncover what happened, secure resources for lifelong care, and hold providers accountable before Maryland’s strict filing deadlines expire.
What Is Fetal Acidosis?
Fetal acidosis occurs when a baby’s blood pH falls below roughly 7.20 because oxygen deprivation triggers lactic acid build-up. Even minutes of low oxygen can damage delicate brain tissue and vital organs. Umbilical cord blood gas testing and low Apgar scores often confirm the diagnosis within moments of birth.
What Causes Fetal Acidosis?
Oxygen loss is the root of virtually every case. Common medical culprits include:
- Compressed or prolapsed umbilical cord that cuts off oxygen flow.
- Placental abruption detaching the placenta too early.
- Uterine rupture, maternal hemorrhage, or severe hypotension reducing placental blood.
- Shoulder dystocia or obstructed labor compressing the cord.
- Misused Pitocin causing hyper-stimulation and choking off recovery time between contractions.
- Maternal complications such as pre-eclampsia or infection that limit oxygen exchange.
Each scenario is manageable with prompt, competent care. Failure to act raises serious legal questions.
Respiratory vs. Metabolic Acidosis
Respiratory acidosis stems from CO₂ build-up and can reverse quickly once oxygen flows again. Metabolic acidosis signals longer deprivation as lactic acid accumulates and often leads to more profound injury. Mixed acidosis is especially dangerous.
Signs and Symptoms of Fetal Acidosis
During labor, persistent late decelerations, bradycardia, or minimal variability on the fetal heart monitor warn of distress. Meconium-stained fluid or decreased fetal movement can reinforce concern. After birth, red flags include low Apgar scores, weak cry, cyanosis, seizures, and the need for immediate NICU ventilation. Any delay in responding to these signs can deepen harm.
Could Medical Negligence Be the Cause?
Doctors and nurses are trained to prevent acidosis by monitoring and acting on fetal distress. When they breach that standard, tragedy follows. Our Potomac fetal acidosis attorneys investigate errors such as:
- Delayed emergency C-section despite clear monitor alarms.
- Improper fetal heart monitoring or silenced alerts.
- Excessive Pitocin leading to tachysystole.
- Anesthesia mismanagement causing maternal hypotension.
- Ignored placental abruption or uterine rupture.
- Failure to resuscitate a newborn in respiratory crisis.
Uncommon Case Scenarios
- Subtle heart-rate variability misread.
- Unmanaged maternal eclampsia seizure.
- Faulty fetal monitors producing false reassurance.
- IV contamination leading to maternal sepsis.
- Breakdown in team communication where everyone assumes someone else will intervene.
Our firm has successfully unraveled negligence even in these complex settings.
