A birth injury caused by oxygen deprivation should never rob a child of a healthy start. Our Rockville fetal acidosis attorneys at Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A., led by Jonathan Schochor and Kerry Staton, fight every day to hold negligent medical providers accountable and secure the resources families need to move forward.
We combine four decades of courtroom success with a deep bench of medical investigators because answers and accountability matter as much as financial recovery.
Call (410) 234-1000 to speak directly with Rockville fetal acidosis attorneys Jonathan Schochor or Kerry Staton for a free, no-obligation consultation
What Is Fetal Acidosis and Why Does It Happen During Childbirth?
Fetal acidosis is a dangerous drop in a newborn’s blood pH triggered by insufficient oxygen during labor or delivery. When oxygen levels fall, cells release lactic acid; if the stress continues, that acid builds up and the baby’s pH falls below the safe range of roughly 7.35.
Oxygen interruptions most often develop in the last stages of labor, but they can also arise in the first minutes after birth if caregivers fail to stabilize the child quickly. Untreated acidosis can cause permanent brain injury, organ failure, or death, making immediate prevention and response critical.
What Are the Warning Signs of Fetal Acidosis Before and After Birth?
Abnormal fetal heart rate patterns are the clearest prenatal warning sign. Late decelerations, persistent bradycardia, or absent variability on electronic monitors tell doctors the baby is in distress. Meconium-stained fluid, prolonged labor pain, or sudden loss of fetal movement should also raise alarms.
After delivery, babies with acidosis may need resuscitation, show low Apgar scores, exhibit blue or gray skin, experience seizures, or struggle to breathe or feed. Umbilical-cord blood gas testing that reveals a pH below 7.2 confirms the diagnosis. Properly trained Rockville obstetric teams are expected to spot these indicators and act within minutes.
What Causes Fetal Acidosis? (Common Causes in Rockville Deliveries)
Oxygen loss drives every case of fetal acidosis. Local delivery-room records show several recurring triggers:
- Umbilical cord compression or prolapse pinches off blood flow.
- Placental abruption or insufficiency prevents oxygen transfer.
- Prolonged or obstructed labor—often from shoulder dystocia, macrosomia, or cephalopelvic disproportion—keeps the baby stuck and strangled for too long.
- Abnormal fetal position or multiple gestation complicates descent and delays delivery.
- Tachysystole from excessive Pitocin yields nonstop contractions that strangle the cord.
- Maternal crises such as severe hypotension or untreated preeclampsia abruptly starve the fetus of oxygen.
Rockville hospitals such as Shady Grove Medical Center maintain protocols for each scenario. When staff ignore or misapply those protocols, preventable acidosis follows.
