Birth Injury: Flaws in Electronic Fetal Heart Monitor Interpretation by Laurie A. Amell
Part 3
In today's continuation of our Birth Injury blog series, we take a look at electronic fetal monitoring (EFM); one of the tools doctors use in an effort to prevent conditions like cerebral palsy. EFM is used during labor to check on the baby's heart rate, as lack of variability or a heart rate that is too fast or too slow can be indications of serious problems. If these signs are present, doctors can take action to improve them, or if necessary, immediately deliver the baby. Ideally, these measures stop issues like hypoxia from causing permanent damage.
While this technology is now standard practice, being used on 85% of pregnant women in labor, there has not been an accompanying reduction in birth injuries or perinatal deaths. EFM itself is not the problem, but rather the wide range of interpretations a single EFM tracing can produce. As seen in this case unless a doctor correctly identifies and addresses abnormal fetal heart rate tracings, serious birth conditions cannot be prevented.
Our firm has experience dealing with birth injury cases resulting from EFM issues; if your child has suffered because of improper EFM interpretation and you would like to schedule a consultation, please contact us today.
