Birth Injuries

Settlement Recovered on Behalf of Newborn Baby Who Suffered from Sudden Unexpected Post-Natal Collapse

November 8, 2023
Sudden unexpected post natal collapse

Table of Contents

Contributors

Partner Chris Nyberg previously represented a mother whose newborn baby tragically passed away from complications of Sudden Unexpected Post-Natal Collapse due to the hospital’s failure to properly and consistently monitor the mother and baby immediately after birth in accordance with their own policies and procedures.

As a result of the Jacob Fuchsberg Law Firm’s thorough investigation and consultation with highly qualified birth injury experts, Chris Nyberg successfully showed that this tragedy could have been prevented had the baby been monitored properly.

Our Client’s Story

Labor is a very physically and emotionally demanding experience for both a mother and their newborn, as well as their entire family. After a mother gives birth, it is important for her and her newborn to rest and recuperate together, and during this time it is the hospital’s responsibility to perform routine checks to ensure that both the mother and baby are healthy.

Our client gave birth to a healthy baby and received an exam shortly after giving birth per the hospital’s protocol. However, after the initial exam, our client was left alone and without supervision for nearly an hour, and as a result, the baby tragically suffered from Sudden Unexpected Post-Natal Collapse.

Once doctors finally returned, the baby was not breathing and had lost color. Upon their arrival, doctors initiated emergency code and the baby was diagnosed with cardiac arrest and had to be intubated. As a result, the baby tragically experienced brain cooling, substantial brain damage, was diagnosed with HIE, and regularly experienced seizures. However due to the delay in care, the baby remained hospitalized for several months but never recovered and fortunately , developed respiratory and tragically passed away at approximately four months of life.

As part of the settlement, the Plaintiffs received a letter indicating the steps taken by the hospital after the tragic loss of the Infant to review existing, including a quality assurance review and review American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and RAPPT materials and guidelines and other resources to try to improve staff education and identify steps to ensure compliance with regulations. This review led to incorporation of the RAPPTT guidelines with respect to monitoring of newborns during the first hours of life, so the Plaintiffs could know the hospital was making efforts to prevent the tragic occurrence that happened to her son.

What is Sudden Unexpected Post-Natal Collapse?

Sudden Unexpected Postnatal Collapse (SUPC) is a rare and devastating occurrence that impacts healthy babies after birth, and unfortunately leads to death in nearly half of all cases. In order to prevent SUPC from occurring, it is important for nurses, midwives, and physicians to be aware of risk factors associated with SUPC, including but not limited to:

  • Consistent monitoring of infant skin color, breathing activity, tone, and position during the first two hours of life
  • Skin-to-skin care between mother and infant
  • Unsupervised breastfeeding during the first two hours of life
  • Maternal fatigue

Importantly, nearly a quarter of all fatal SUPC cases occur within the hospital, so it is crucial for nursing staff to properly monitor infants during the immediate postnatal recovery period as well as the remainder of the mother and infant’s postpartum stay.

Speak with an Experienced New York Birth Injury Lawyer

The New York birth injury attorneys at the Jacob Fuchsberg Law Firm have over 40 years of experience representing families who wrongfully experienced birth or maternal injury as a result of a hospital’s negligent procedures.

At the Jacob Fuchsberg Law Firm, we investigate every case with the upmost importance, and we will fight to ensure not only that your family receives compensation but also to ensure that no other family will have to be put in a similar position.

Contact the Jacob Fuchsberg Law Firm today for a free confidential consultation.

Let our family help yours.

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