Philadelphia Birth Injury Lawyer Blog

Doctors and researchers have found a new indicator of health problems in newborns. A high level of acidity in cord blood can has been linked to cerebral palsy, brain damage and death in childhood. Through testing doctors hope to predict which children need close monitoring as they mature and develop.

Acid is measured on the pH scale. A score of 7 is neutral, below 7 is acidic and a score above 7 indicates higher levels of alkaline. Umbilical cord blood should be extremely close to 7 but complications during birth, such as loss of oxygen, can cause the infant to produce more lactic acid. The increase of lactic acid increases the acidity of the cord blood and predicts the child may have some problems with normal development.

Currently, cord blood is only tested when it is suspected that the child has experienced a lack of oxygen at birth but the links found in this study may see cord blood tested more routinely as a prediction for birthing complications. A lack of oxygen at birth can lead to brain damage or cerebral palsy in newborns of infants. Currently there are no cures for the crippling diseases but any sign or indicator that can inform doctors of potential problems can lead to a quicker diagnosis and treatments that will improve the child's life.

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A new predictor of newborn health: Umbilical cord blood pH

Doctors have found that exposing babies to xenon gas can help reduce brain injuries suffered by babies born with a lack of oxygen at birth.

The doctors and researchers conducting the xenon gas treatment option were the first to treat newborns with the controversial "cooling method" to reduce the effects of lack of oxygen at birth. With a cooling method the infant's temperature is reduced to lower the oxygen requirement for cells to reduce injury and delay the death of cells. The same doctors who pioneered the "cooling method" are now testing the role xenon gas has in preventing permanent injuries in newborns such as cerebral palsy.

For almost a decade the doctors have proved in the lab that xenon gas doubles the protective effort of cooling the brain in babies born with birth injuries. The problem was the scarcity, cost and delivery of the gas to the newborn. To remedy the problems, the doctors created a "closed circuit system" that is fitted to an incubator to deliver the xenon along with appropriate amounts of oxygen to the newborn. The system works by recycling the xenon that is not absorbed by the infant and pumping it back into the incubator.

The system has greatly reduced the cost of the treatment and has shown promise in the few infants who have tested the system. Doctors and researchers are gearing up for a clinical trial that will hopefully yield positive results and make xenon treatments routine and inexpensive for babies born with birth injuries.

Related Sources:
First baby given xenon gas to prevent brain injury

A couple in San Diego, California, was recently awarded $16 Million by the Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for the death of their baby due to birth asphyxia.

The mother of the baby had gone into the hospital for an induced delivery in November 2004. Attorneys claimed that the baby boy had died of birth asphyxia after becoming stuck in the birth canal. The parents were told that their child had died of lung disease and were not aware, at the time of delivery, of the baby asphyxia injuries. Since the doctors claimed that the death was the result of lung disease, the mother and baby did not receive any birth injury medical resources.

While two doctors were assigned to the mother's care, attorneys claimed that one was seldom checking on her and the other one was never seen.

Jurors in the case returned a verdict that the Sharp Mary Birch Hospital and two doctors were guilty of negligence and had caused harm to the couple. The hospital claims that the $16 Million verdict is too high and will be requesting a new trial.

This blog is designed to be a resource for recent news and current information regarding medical conditions that can affect young children. This blog will provide parents with information and resources regarding the following conditions and birth injuries:

• Cerebral Palsy


• Erb's Palsy


• Lack of Oxygen


• Birth Anoxic Injuries


• Birth Hypoxia Injuries

Birth injuries commonly result from medical malpractice during the delivery. Injuries can result in permanent brain damage and other conditions, such as cerebral palsy. An important way to help a child who is diagnosed with a birth injury is to stay informed.