Neonatal Hypoglycemia – Low Blood Sugar in the Newborn
Glucose is an essential nutrient for the brain. Neonatal hypoglycemia is an abnormally low level of blood glucose (“blood sugar") occurring in the newborn period, usually within a few hours of birth up to several days of age. Neonatal hypoglycemia is a common, potentially very dangerous, condition seen in newborns.Abnormally low blood glucose levels can cause long-term neurological injury such as cerebral palsy (brain damage) and blindness in infants. Conditions which increase a baby's risk for neonatal hypoglycemia include gestational or non-gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia (pregnancy induced hypertension-toxemia of pregnancy), small or large birth weight, and fetal distress. Babies who, for any reason, do not nurse well in the first few hours to days of life are at risk for neonatal hypoglycemia. Difficulties with breast-feeding, particularly for first-time mothers, can result in neonatal hypoglycemia.
Signs of neonatal hypoglycemia may include the following:
- No signs at all – some babies may be hypoglycemic but asymptomatic
- Jitteriness (often one of the earliest signs, sometimes mistaken as "shivering")
- Listlessness
- Irritability
- Hypothermia (low body temperature)
- Respiratory distress
- Apnea (cessation of breathing for varying periods of time)
- Weak or high-pitched cry
- Lack of muscle tone or weakness (hypotonia)
- Poor feeding (often one of the earliest signs)
- Convulsions, tremors, seizures or coma (usually late signs)
If your baby had any risk factors for neonatal hypoglycemia or demonstrated any of these signs, he or she should have been tested ("screened") for hypoglycemia. Testing includes checking the blood at frequent intervals for glucose levels. Low blood glucose levels may require glucose supplementation of the infant's feedings, or if severe, intravenous glucose.
In general, the standard of care does not require screening of all newborn infants for hypoglycemia. However, if there are risk factors or any signs of hypoglycemia, the pediatrician and the hospital through its nurses may be required to test for hypoglycemia and treat it if present. If the healthcare providers failed to properly do this, and your baby was injured or died, you may have a claim.
In consultations with neonatologists, pediatricians, neonatal nurses, pediatric neurologists, neuroradiologists and other physicians, the lawyers at the Sweeney Law Firm will work with medical specialists to review medical records, x-rays, CT scans, MRI’s, and other sources of information from your pregnancy, labor and delivery, and your baby’s newborn period for evidence of whether your baby’s healthcare providers may have committed malpractice. If so, the Sweeney Law Firm may be able to recover money damages to help pay for medical bills, physical therapy and other rehabilitation expenses as well as compensation for your baby’s emotional and physical pain and suffering, permanent disability, loss of income, loss of quality of life and all other damages sustained.
Call the Sweeney Law Firm at 260-420-3137 or toll free at 1-866-793-6339. Get answers to your questions. Learn your legal rights. There is no cost or obligation for us to evaluate your case.
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