According to the American Pregnancy Association, the term “fetal distress” is difficult to define and often confused with more serious and life-threatening conditions. It generally refers to a fetus that is not getting, or has not received, sufficient oxygen during pregnancy or labor, but is not the same as birth asphyxia. Both fetal distress and birth asphyxia can cause Pittsburgh newborns to suffer significant health problems during their first moments of life, and certain pre-birth conditions may suggest that a baby will experience these scary complications.
For example, mothers who experience anemia during their pregnancies more often have babies who suffer from fetal distress than mothers who do not have this condition. Also, oligohydramnios can suggest that a baby may suffer from fetal distress; this condition occurs when the amount of amniotic fluid is lower than normal.
Mothers who have higher than normal blood pressure during pregnancy can have children who suffer from fetal distress, and fetuses that present small for their gestational ages may also suffer fetal distress more frequently than their larger counterparts. The length of a pregnancy may suggest that a child will suffer from fetal distress, as pregnancies that last 42 weeks or longer have a greater tendency of yielding cases of fetal distress than pregnancies that endure fewer weeks.
These are only some of the factors that may suggest that a baby will suffer from fetal distress during the pregnancy and birthing processes, and readers of this post are reminded that the contents presented herein are offered as information only, and that no legal or medical advice should be read from this post. However, readers who have concerns about their doctors’ handling of fetal distress during their pregnancies may wish to consult with personal injury attorneys in their areas.