When childbirth takes a tragic turn, the ripple effects extend far beyond the delivery room. Parents who were eagerly awaiting their baby’s first cry may suddenly find themselves in the middle of a medical crisis, one that can leave lifelong emotional and physical scars.
One of the most devastating outcomes of oxygen deprivation during labor or delivery is hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). This serious birth injury often leads to permanent physical and developmental challenges for the child, while families must grapple with emotional heartbreak, financial strain, and the ongoing demands of specialized care.
While some HIE cases result from unavoidable complications, others occur because doctors fail to monitor, respond, or intervene in time. If medical negligence played a role in your child’s injury, you may have the right to pursue compensation to support their care and secure their future.
Learn how HIE occurs, what doctors should do to prevent it, and how our experienced Michigan birth injury attorneys at Fieger Law can help you through this challenging journey.
What Is HIE?
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a brain injury that occurs when a baby doesn’t get enough oxygen and blood flow around the time of birth. This lack of oxygen can damage brain cells and affect movement, learning, and development.
It’s considered rare but still happens in about 1.5 to 2.5 births out of every 1,000. Of those children, nearly 60% either develop serious conditions like cerebral palsy or epilepsy or pass away within the first few years.
HIE often indicates a problem during labor or delivery, especially when signs of distress are missed or ignored. If you believe medical negligence led to your child’s injury, consult an attorney at Fieger Law to review your case.
What Are the Most Common Causes of HIE?
HIE can result in lifelong physical, cognitive, and developmental challenges that forever alter a child’s trajectory. Coming to terms with how and why it happened can be overwhelming, but understanding the most common causes may help you determine whether your child’s injury could have been prevented.
- Uterine Rupture: A uterine rupture is a tear in the wall of the uterus during labor. When this happens, the baby can lose access to oxygen almost immediately, creating a life-threatening emergency that requires urgent delivery.
- Placental Abruption: Placental abruption occurs when the organ that provides oxygen and nutrients to the baby separates from the wall of the uterus before delivery. This limits the baby’s oxygen supply and can lead to brain damage if not treated quickly.
- Umbilical Cord Accidents: Umbilical cord complications happen when the cord slips into the birth canal before the baby or becomes compressed during labor. This can reduce oxygen and blood flow, increasing the risk of HIE if not addressed immediately.
- Prolonged Labor: Prolonged labor, over 25 hours for first-time moms or 20 for others, leads to repeated contractions. This can reduce oxygen levels and cause fetal distress, especially when delivery is delayed.
You may have grounds for legal action when HIE is linked to delays, mistakes, or missed warning signs during delivery. A legal review with Fieger Law can help identify what went wrong and whether your child’s injury could have been prevented.
Medical Negligence and Preventable HIE
Preventing HIE starts with vigilance. Medical professionals have a duty to monitor labor closely, recognize warning signs, and respond quickly to protect both mother and baby. The results can be devastating when doctors or nurses fail to act or make the wrong call.
Some of the most common forms of medical negligence that can lead to HIE include:
- Ignoring or misreading fetal monitoring data
- Failing to respond to abnormal heart rates
- Delaying a necessary C-section
- Misusing forceps or vacuum extractors
- Failing to diagnose maternal infections or high-risk conditions
When providers ignore clear signs of distress or delay critical interventions, families are often left to deal with the consequences of those mistakes. Get answers about your legal rights by speaking with a Michigan birth injury attorney at Fieger Law.
Long-Term Effects of HIE
The impact of HIE depends on how long the baby went without enough oxygen and how quickly doctors responded. Some children recover with minimal effects, but many face many challenges.
Long-term consequences may include:
- Developmental delays in speech, movement, or learning
- Motor skill impairment, such as muscle weakness or spasticity
- Cerebral palsy
- Seizure disorders
- Feeding difficulties
- Vision or hearing problems
Therapies may help children progress, but ongoing care often carries high costs. Many families require home health support, specialized education, and adaptive equipment.
Legal Options for Families Facing an HIE Injury
If your child developed HIE because of medical negligence, you may have the right to file a birth injury lawsuit. Taking legal action can help you recover compensation for medical care, therapy, equipment, future needs, and the emotional toll this injury has placed on your family.
With decades of experience, Fieger Law is dedicated to holding hospitals and healthcare providers accountable for preventable mistakes.
Here’s how we can help:
- Reviewing your medical records for signs of negligence
- Working with medical experts to understand what went wrong
- Handling communication with insurance companies and hospital lawyers
- Pursuing compensation through settlement or trial
- Guiding you through every step of the legal process
We’ve stood beside parents in some of the most complex and high-stakes birth injury cases, including the largest birth injury settlement in U.S. history.
Protect Your Family’s Future With Fieger Law
When HIE is caused by delays, poor decisions, or missed signs during labor, families are left facing challenges that never should have happened. At Fieger Law, we investigate what went wrong and fight for the answers and fair compensation.
Our skilled attorneys know how to challenge hospitals and providers and hold them liable for the injuries they cause. We provide knowledgeable and compassionate support while pursuing the compensation your child will need for long-term care, therapy, and support.
Contact us today for a free consultation and let us help your family win a settlement to support your child’s future and secure the care they deserve.
