Research aims to lessen lasting effects of birth injury

Maryland parents typically expect welcoming a new baby to be an occasion of pure joy, but sometimes, a lot can go wrong during the birth and delivery process. One of the more common birth injury scenarios in the United States is oxygen deprivation. If a baby is born prematurely, oxygen deprivation can occur because a baby’s lungs may not be developed enough to draw the necessary first breaths. But sadly, this situation can also occur due to medical malpractice.

A newborn that suffers oxygen deprivation is at risk to suffer long term or permanent brain injury. A team of researchers is using cutting-edge technology to learn more about the condition and what may be done to help children suffering from this type of birth injury. In many cases, babies suffering from such an injury are kept in quiet private environments with limited stimuli. The new research suggests that this may actually be counterproductive.

The researchers used models and other means to replicate a human child that suffered from oxygen deprivation at birth. Some were treated in the conventional manner, with minimal stimuli in a more quiet environment, while others were kept in a scenario with more peers, lights, sounds and interactions. As the models aged, it seems that the ones exposed to more stimulating environments were able to achieve a higher level of brain development, and performed better on tests that gauge motor skills, comprehension and other developmental milestones that can be affected by oxygen deprivation at birth.

Maryland parents that have an infant that suffered a similar birth injury may wonder what sort of action can be taken now. If a baby’s birth injury was the result of negligence on the part of medical professionals, parents may have legal grounds to file a lawsuit. A child with a serious permanent injury may require a lifetime of expensive medical care, and a medical malpractice attorney can help parents learn about what monetary relief may be available to help ease a child’s suffering.