Meconium Aspiration Syndrome And Birth Injury: What You Need To Know About It, The Risks, And The Outlook

A New York family settled with New York Presbyterian Hospital after alleging that the hospital’s improper care of their infant caused their infant’s death. In the New York medical malpractice lawsuit, the plaintiff alleged that the hospital failed to properly monitor the fetal heart rate, failed to properly respond to the poor fetal heart rate and failed to deliver the infant in a timely manner. When the family was informed of their child’s death, they were informed the cause of death was Meconium Aspiration Syndrome. Recently, the family settled with the hospital for $375,000.

I believe that it is important that my readers know about this Meconium Aspiration so that they understand it. Being able to recognize this condition may not only save the life of your baby, but will also ensure you preserve your rights in a possible New York medical malpractice lawsuit.

Meconium is the first stool discharged by an infant, discharged before the infant starts feeding on either breast milk or formula, and is usually passed after the infant is born. Meconium is usually green or yellowish in color. However, in some case, meconium can pass during labor or while the infant is still inside the uterus, typically this will happen when the baby is suffering distress due to issues with either the placenta or blood and oxygen levels. Additionally, other contributing factors such as high blood pressure of the mother, a long difficult labor, diabetes of the mother and pregnancies that last far past the due date can cause stress on the baby that could cause meconium discharge. If meconium passes while the infant is in utero the infant may breathe in the meconium, which can block the infant’s airways, when this occurs is it known as Meconium Aspiration Syndrome and is what happened to the young infant above.

It is important for everyone to understand that even if meconium is passed during labor or while the infant is in the utero that it does not automatically mean the meconium reached the infant’s lungs, in fact, meconium aspiration syndrome occurs in in less than five percent of cases where meconium passes in utero. However, everyone needs to know what should happen if meconium aspiration syndrome does occur. Symptoms of meconium aspiration syndrome are when the infant has bluish skin color, breathing problems; such has trouble breathing, rapid breathing or no breathing at all.

In most cases, when meconium aspiration syndrome occurs and treatment is given immediately, the infant’s outlook is extremely good with little chance of long-term effects. However, there are some cases, like the one discussed earlier, where things do go so well. If this occurs it is important to know as much information about what the hospital is doing to treat your child. Even though, meconium aspiration syndrome does not occur often, it is still essential for potential parents to know about it. If meconium aspiration syndrome did occur in your child, please know that you we are here help you in anyway that we can.

But what do you think? I would love to hear from you! Leave a comment or I also welcome your phone call on my toll-free cell at 1-866-889-6882 or you can drop me an e-mail at jfisher@fishermalpracticelaw.com . You are always welcome to request my FREE book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, at the home page of my website at www.protectingpatientrights.com.