Babies lungs are extremely delicate and can be easily damaged at birth

Babies often ingest a substance in the womb known as meconium, which is green or yellow and must be suctioned from the baby's lungs immediately after delivery. If it is not, the baby could suffocate and its lungs could be damaged during a birth injury.

Meconium lines the baby's intestines during pregnancy. It is often not released in the baby's bowel movements until after the birth. Occasionally, babies will have a bowel movement prior to the birth and excrete meconium into the amniotic fluid.

If meconium is present during labour and birth, a mother will be closely watched for signs of fetal distress. Meconium staining of the amniotic fluid does not mean a baby is suffering from fetal distress. Thicker quantities can also be present which are more of a threat to a baby's health.

Sterile fluid is sometimes placed inside the uterus via a catheter to help dilute the meconium. This process is called amnioinfusion.

Oxygen used during resuscitation at birth may also contribute to lung injury, especially premature lungs given excessive amounts of oxygen.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
This condition, also known as BPD, is a chronic lung disease in babies which develops in the first four weeks after birth. With BPD, the lungs do not work properly and babies often have trouble breathing.

They will need extra oxygen and maybe help from a machine that helps them to breathe. Doctors think babies develop BPD because their lungs are too sensitive and there is often something in their immediate environment which makes it difficult for them to breathe. Incorrect administration of oxygen can cause a lung birth injury.

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)
BPD differs from respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) which is when the lungs of newborn babies do not produce enough of the liquid surface which lines the lungs, called surfactant. Rather than being treated with a breathing machine and excessive oxygen, which can cause birth injuries, many babies are treated with surfactant replacement therapy.

Lung birth injury compensation
A baby's birth should be one of the happiest times of a parent's life. But many babies suffer unnecessarily from birth injuries during delivery due to the negligence of medical staff and obstetricians.

Anything affecting your baby's lungs and their ability to breathe is extremely serious and you may want to claim compensation if medical negligence at birth has resulted in damage to your baby.

That's where we could help.

We can help you make birth accident claim for personal injury compensation and it won't cost you a single penny. You can also keep 100 % of any compensation so pick up the phone today and give us a call us on 0800 10 757 95.