WGK Personal Injury Lawyers | June 25, 2025 | Birth Injuries
NOTE: Our law firm does not handle medical malpractice cases. This article is for informational purposes only. Information found in the article does not constitute as formal legal advice and does not create an attorney/client relationship.
It’s not uncommon for the umbilical cord to become wrapped around a baby’s neck during childbirth—a condition known as a nuchal cord. While the term can sound alarming, many babies are delivered safely even when a nuchal cord is present. However, serious complications can occur if the situation isn’t properly recognized and managed.
It’s the responsibility of medical professionals to detect a nuchal cord and respond swiftly. If they fail to do so, the baby may face significant risks during labor, including oxygen deprivation or other birth-related injuries. The severity and permanence of these effects often depend on how tightly the cord was wrapped and how long it restricted blood or oxygen flow.
Oxygen Loss Can Create Serious Complications
The most urgent problem involves oxygen deprivation. If the cord is tight enough, it could cut off oxygen to the baby’s brain. Even just a few minutes of this can cause severe brain damage called hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. It can lead to serious problems like seizures, delayed development, and physical disabilities. Such damage is often lifelong.
Signs of Trouble Might Show Up Later
Not every problem will show up right away. Some children seem fine at first but show signs of developmental delays as they grow up. Some kids struggle to walk or talk, or they aren’t able to reach certain milestones.
Some parents don’t realize something went wrong during the birth until a doctor suggests testing years later. That delay doesn’t erase the fact that a birth injury happened during delivery or that it could have been avoided.
Physical and Cognitive Disabilities
If the oxygen loss is severe, the child could face long-term physical and cognitive challenges. Cerebral palsy is one of the most common (often permanent) outcomes, and it affects muscle control and motor skill development.
Other possible issues might involve hearing loss, vision problems, speech delays, and trouble learning. The severity can vary. Some children need a little extra support at school, while others require constant care for the rest of their lives.
Emotional and Financial Impact on Families
These injuries don’t just affect the child—they affect the entire family. Parents often spend years navigating medical appointments, therapy sessions, and special education needs. The emotional toll can be massive, and so can the financial cost.
Between doctor appointments, adaptive equipment, and home care, the bills pile up fast. Many families end up making big sacrifices like cutting hours at work, moving, or taking on debt just to give their child the care they need.
When Medical Mistakes Are Involved
Not every birth injury can be prevented. However, in some cases, someone made a poor choice or ignored something important during the birth that led directly to the problems the child and their family now face. The damage of medical malpractice often can’t be undone, but the truth still matters.
If a child is hurt because of bad decisions in the delivery room, it could be grounds for legal action. Families in Baltimore have the right to seek accountability when medical professionals fail to protect their child.
A successful birth injury case needs solid evidence. Medical records (for both mom and the infant), testimony from experts, receipts, journals showing the impact on everyone involved, and financial records all help prove that there was real damage done and the family deserves to be compensated.
When a new baby enters the world, it’s supposed to be a joyous occasion. But when something goes wrong, everything changes. Families often struggle to understand what happened and why, and they deserve support, recognition of their child’s needs, and the chance to hold the right people accountable.
WGK Personal Injury Lawyers
14 W Madison St, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States
(410) 837-2144
WGK Personal Injury Lawyers – Dundalk Office
7329 Holabird Ave Suite 3, Dundalk, MD 21222
By appointment only
(410) 970-3080
WGK Personal Injury Lawyers – Largo Office
1401 Mercantile Ln Suite 500-M, Largo, MD 20774
By appointment only
(410) 837-2144
If you believe you have a medical malpractice claim, call us. We can refer you to a lawyer who handles these cases.