FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here a short list of quick references answering some of the most often asked questions:

• Birth Injuries
• Birth Brain Injuries and Bleeds (Hemorrhages)
• C-Section Delivery
• Cerebral Palsy
• Missed Milestones
• Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
• Placental Abruption

How do I know my baby is OK?

During prenatal care, your healthcare provider will measure your abdomen to make sure the baby is growing. If there is a question regarding your baby’s well-being, the healthcare provider may order an ultrasound. Your healthcare provider will also listen to the baby’s heartbeat at your prenatal visits.

Your healthcare provider may ask you to monitor the number of times your baby kicks or moves during a specified timeframe in an effort to determine fetal well-being.

As your pregnancy progresses, your physician may order an NST or nonstress test. This test involves placing a fetal monitor on your abdomen and watching for changes in the baby’s heart rate with movement.

During labor, your healthcare provider will monitor the heart rate of your baby to make sure your baby is tolerating the stress associated with the contractions and descent of the baby into the birth canal. The heart rate of the baby can be monitored by an external monitor placed on the mother’s abdomen or by an internal monitor that is placed on the head of the baby to measure the heart rate of the baby directly. An external or internal monitor for measuring contractions will also be utilized to determine how the baby is responding to contractions.