Expecting a baby comes with excitement, but it also comes with worry about your baby’s health and safety throughout pregnancy. Most parents assume that if something goes wrong, clear warning signs will appear in time to seek help from a doctor or hospital. Unfortunately, this is not always true, and many stillbirths happen with little to no advance warning at all. A stillbirth can occur even when a mother has been attending every scheduled appointment and following her provider’s guidance closely, leaving parents searching for answers about what happened and why. Many parents describe feeling caught off guard, especially when their pregnancy had otherwise seemed healthy up to that point.
When a baby is stillborn, families are often left wondering whether the loss could have been prevented with closer monitoring or a faster response from their medical team. If a provider missed warning signs, ignored a mother’s concerns, or failed to act on concerning symptoms, the loss may be connected to infant death caused by negligence. Our attorneys at Wagner Reese, LLP work with Indiana families to review what happened during a pregnancy and delivery, and to determine whether a preventable medical error played a role in their loss.
Signs a Baby May Be in Distress
Recognizing the signs of fetal distress can be difficult, since many stillbirths happen with little to no warning at all. The signs that do occur are frequently subtle, and it can be hard for an expecting parent to know when a symptom is serious enough to call a doctor right away.
According to the CDC, the most commonly reported sign before a stillbirth is a noticeable decrease in the baby’s movement, particularly in the days leading up to the loss. Other possible signs include cramping, spotting, or bleeding, though these symptoms can also point to several different pregnancy complications that are unrelated to fetal death. Because these signs are not always clear indicators of a serious problem, providers are expected to take reports of reduced movement seriously and evaluate both mother and baby quickly rather than waiting to see if symptoms resolve on their own.
Medical Conditions Linked to Stillbirth
Several medical conditions increase the risk of stillbirth, and providers are expected to monitor for them closely throughout pregnancy using routine screenings and follow-up care. The following conditions are among the most common causes tied to preventable stillbirths:
- Preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication involving high blood pressure and organ strain
- Placental abruption, when the placenta separates from the uterine wall too early
- Umbilical cord complications, including cord compression or a cord wrapped around the baby
- Infections that go undetected or untreated during pregnancy
When a provider fails to identify or properly manage any of these conditions, the risk of stillbirth rises significantly, and families are often left without clear answers about why their baby did not survive.
When a Stillbirth May Involve Medical Negligence
Not every stillbirth results from a medical error, and some losses occur even with attentive, appropriate care. However, when a provider fails to monitor a high-risk pregnancy, misses signs of fetal distress, or delays a necessary delivery, the loss may be connected to ob-gyn malpractice rather than an unavoidable complication.
Reviewing prenatal records, delivery notes, and fetal monitoring strips can help determine whether a provider met the expected standard of care throughout the pregnancy and delivery. This kind of review often involves comparing what a provider documented against what should have happened given the mother’s symptoms and risk factors at the time. Families who lost a baby to stillbirth may be able to pursue a claim if a preventable error played a role in their loss, even if the connection was not obvious right away.
How Wagner Reese, LLP May Be Able to Help
Losing a baby to stillbirth is an overwhelming experience, and learning that the loss may have been preventable can bring an entirely new wave of grief on top of an already painful loss. Our attorneys at Wagner Reese, LLP have represented Indiana families through birth injury and wrongful death claims for years, and we approach every case with care for what our clients are going through during one of the hardest moments of their lives. We take the time to walk families through what a review of their medical records may reveal, and we explain each step of the process in plain language.
If you believe a medical error contributed to your stillbirth, we may be able to help you understand your legal options and what steps come next. Reach out through our contact form to discuss what happened during your pregnancy and delivery.
