Things can go wrong during labor and delivery with almost no warning. It only takes a minor issue to endanger both the mother and her unborn child. When things go wrong during labor and delivery, modern medical professionals can potentially help. They have access to equipment that allows them to stabilize the mother and the child or expedite the delivery by performing medical interventions including cesarean sections (c-sections).
To better ensure an optimal birth outcome, it is necessary for healthcare professionals to monitor not just the mother but also the unborn child. Fetal heart rate monitoring is generally crucial for a safe birth.
Why fetal heart rate monitoring matters
Women know their own bodies and can recognize when something seems wrong. Especially when a mother has had children before, she can communicate to healthcare professionals about abnormalities and concerns.
An unborn child has no means of communicating their distress in an emergency. In scenarios were something goes drastically wrong, such as when the umbilical cord is wrapped around the unborn child, the infant can be at risk of permanent birth injuries in a matter of minutes.
Fetal heart rate monitoring helps address that inability to otherwise screen the unborn infant. Changes in the heart rate of the unborn child can be the early indication of distress. Medical professionals can respond to changes by intervening.
They can help stabilize the mother and child or begin preparations for an emergency C-section then save the child’s life and minimize any birth injuries that occur. Current best practices in the obstetric world include consistent fetal heart rate monitoring during active labor for exactly this reason.
How hospitals fail to meet standards
Sometimes, the professionals at a labor and delivery facility fail to utilize fetal heart rate monitors. They may assume that the mother is not yet in the active stages of labor and may delay the use of the heart rate monitor for the fetus. Other times, they may have failed to properly maintain the device, leading to inaccurate readings.
Perhaps the most common issue is the failure to actively check the monitor. Both the placement of the device and the readings it provides require regular review by healthcare professionals. When the labor and delivery ward is particularly busy or when the workers find interacting with a particular mother distasteful, they may become negligent in the standard of care that they provide. In such scenarios, fetal distress may go unnoticed until it reaches a dangerous point. Inadequate fetal heart rate monitoring can lead to tragic consequences, such as preventable brain injuries.
Ultimately, filing a medical malpractice lawsuit may be necessary for those affected by poor medical practices that result in preventable birth injuries.