Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS)

There are several signs of MAS that a doctor and the birth delivery team should watch for and respond to appropriately when the danger arises. These include:

At birth:

• Meconium-stained amniotic fluid (greenish or brownish)
• Greenish staining of the baby’s skin, umbilical cord, or fingernails
• Limp appearance or decreased muscle tone
• Low Apgar scores — a quick, standard test for newborns at 1 and 5 minutes after birth, assessing Appearance (color), Pulse (heart rate), Grimace (reflex response), Activity (muscle tone), and Respiration (breathing)

Respiratory symptoms:

• Rapid, labored breathing (tachypnea)
• Grunting sounds with breathing
• Retractions (chest wall pulling in with breaths)
• Bluish discoloration of skin (cyanosis)
• Barrel-shaped chest from air trapping
• Crackling sounds (rales) heard with a stethoscope

If severe:

• Respiratory failure requiring ventilator support
• Low blood oxygen levels despite oxygen therapy
• Persistent pulmonary hypertension

If you believe your infant experienced MAS during birth and is suffering the negative effects of it as they grow, contacting a Michigan birth injury lawyer may be the smart next step to find out if you have legal recourse for medical malpractice.

There can be a variety of reasons why meconium is released during birth, and medical standards require doctors to be ready to respond to these events. Reasons for MAS and aspiration problems during birth can include:

• Fetal Distress: Low oxygen levels cause the baby to pass meconium.
• Post-term Pregnancy: Babies born after 40-42 weeks are at higher risk.
• Maternal Complications: High blood pressure, diabetes, difficult labor.
• Placental Insufficiency: Poor placental function.
• Umbilical Cord Compression: The umbilical cord becomes constricted.

Why aspiration occurs:

• The stressed baby may gasp while still in the womb or during delivery.
• Meconium is inhaled deep into the airways and lungs.
• This can happen before, during, or immediately after birth.

Very severe cases of MAS can lead to chronic lung disease or developmental delays as the child grows.

Proving negligence requires your attorney to research and examine all evidence and build a strong medical negligence case on your behalf. Some of the key elements needed include:

• Proof of Deviation from Standard Practices: Establishing that the doctor’s actions fell below accepted medical standards
• Expert Testimony and Medical Records: Using medical data and tests, as well as expert testimony, showing the injury was likely due to a deviation from accepted medical practices

Medical records, including imaging and exam results, treatment notations, and delivery records, can provide valuable documentation of the injury and its potential causes. Expert medical testimony from qualified and experienced professionals can also be persuasive in showing that the level of care was inadequate and that the healthcare provider deviated from medical standards, leading to the injury.

Detroit has several hospitals equipped to handle high-risk pregnancy care for mothers who may be prone to complicated deliveries.

1. Henry Ford Health

Location: Multiple locations across Metro Detroit

• Maternal-fetal medicine specialists with advanced training
• Advanced prenatal diagnostic studies
• Treatment planning for pregnancy complications
• Home-like birthing centers
• Comprehensive high-risk pregnancy care

2. DMC (Detroit Medical Center) – Hutzel Women’s Hospital

 Location: Midtown Detroit
Specialty: Premier maternal-fetal medicine center with comprehensive IUGR care.

• Maternal Special Care Unit (the only one in the tri-county area for pregnant women needing advanced care)
• Maternal-fetal medicine specialists on staff
• Intrauterine fetal surgery and fetal transfusions (one of few hospitals nationally)
• Advanced ultrasound imaging and monitoring
• FIRST Trimester Screening for chromosomal abnormalities
• High-risk amniocentesis
• Partnership with Children’s Hospital of Michigan for neonatal care
• S. News & World Report ranked in obstetrics and gynecology

Additional DMC Birthing Centers:

• Harris Birthing Center at Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital (Commerce Township)
• Sinai-Grace Hospital Birthing Center (Northwest Detroit)

3. Wayne Health (Wayne State University)

Location: Multiple sites in Southeast Michigan, delivery at Hutzel Women’s Hospital

• Partnership with Children’s Hospital of Michigan Fetal Care Center
• Academic medical center with a research focus
• Access to clinical trials and the latest treatments
• Multidisciplinary team approach
• Services at DMC Hutzel, Children’s Hospital, and multiple outreach locations

4. University of Michigan Health (C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital)

Location: Ann Arbor (Metro Detroit area)

• Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment Center
• Level IV NICU located within the birth center
• Specialty clinics: cardio-obstetrics, metabolic health, and psychiatry integration
• Minimally invasive fetal interventions
• Comprehensive high-risk pregnancy management
• Cutting-edge research in fetal anomalies
• Birth center integrated with the children’s hospital

Mothers of infants harmed by Meconium Aspiration Syndrome can face lifelong medical expenses that create a hardship on families. Because of the medical negligence of doctors and/or hospitals, infants and mothers can suffer financial and emotional distress for years.

Because of this, those affected by MAS and other birth injuries may be entitled to economic and non-economic damages, such as:

• Medical Costs: Doctor, hospital, tests, and specialist care during and immediately after birth can amount to tens of thousands of dollars.
• Future Medical Care: Infants born with MAS can require hospital and in-home care for years, including cognitive, physical, and occupational therapy. The family incurs the cost of these.
• Emotional Distress: Mothers and families often experience anxiety, depression, trauma, and other mental and emotional distress because of an MAS delivery.
• Pain and Suffering: An infant experiencing MAS can not only be traumatized at birth but can face a long future of suffering.

There are 80 to 90 maternal deaths in Michigan each year, state data shows. Detroit PBS station’s “One Detroit” and The Detroit News collaborated to explore answers for Michigan’s maternal mortality crisis, highlighting issues like access to care, Black maternal disparities, and provider bias, while examining programs like California’s and Wayne State University’s models, emphasizing improving postpartum support and listening to women to save lives.

Key Statistics & Trends in Detroit/Michigan:

• Preterm Births: Detroit leads major U.S. cities in preterm births, with 1 in 7 babies born prematurely in 2020.
• Maternal Mortality:Black maternal mortality rates in Detroit are three times the national average, with preventable causes like lack of care and high blood pressure being major factors.
• Infant Mortality: Detroit’s infant mortality rate saw recent improvements (down to 11/1000 in 2019 from 16.7/1000 in 2018), but overall rates in Michigan remain a concern, ranking 34th nationally.  

General Birth Injury Statistics (Context for Detroit):

• Prevalence: About 6 to 7 out of every 1,000 births in the U.S. result in birth injuries, often linked to caregiver negligence or assisted delivery tools.
• Specific Complications: Shoulder dystocia, where the baby’s shoulder gets stuck, affects 14% in some Michigan data, and forceps injuries are a known issue.

There are several Metro Detroit support groups and services for mothers and families of infants with birth injuries and infant fatality. Some of these include:

1. Share Your Pregnancy and Infant Loss – Detroit Chapter

Website: nationalshare.org

2. Mothering Justice

Website: motheringjustice.org

3. Detroit March of Dimes

Website: marchofdimes.org to use their contact form.

• Select your ZIP code (Detroit area) to be directed to local resources.
• Inquire about a NICU Family Support Program in Detroit.
  4. Metro Detroit Share

Website: metrodetroitshare.org

5. Detroit Perinatal Wellness Coalition

Website: detroitperinatalwellness.org

Parents can find information, counseling, and support through these Detroit-area organizations when they and their infants are in critical need of understanding, compassion, and help.

At Fieger Law, we understand the trauma and hardship suffered by mothers and families when birth injuries occur. You should not have to walk through this terrible experience alone. Our attorneys and skilled legal team are prepared to walk beside you and aggressively advocate for the compensation you deserve.

We treat every client with dignity, respect, and concern. Reach out today to learn how we can help your family during this difficult time.