The birth of a child is a joyous occasion and most parents are right to assume that their labor and birth will be relatively uneventful. Expectant parents-to be place their faith in the medical staff at the hospital where the birth takes place with full confidence that the progress will be properly monitored and that any problems will be instantly dealt the moment they occur.

In truth, hospital staff members throughout the country rely on electronic fetal monitoring products in more than 80% of all births in United States today, despite the fact that since their introduction in the 1970s there has not been a strong evidence to suggest their safety and positive results. In fact, it may be that fetal monitoring products are past due for some serious modifications. In some cases the fetal monitor indicates a problem that leads to an emergency cesarean section or the use of a vacuum or forceps for a vaginal birth, all three of which can lead to injuries, complications for the mother or child and can even cause death.

Frequently fetal monitoring products fail to increase physician's awareness of oxygen deprivation in the fetus, the task these monitoring systems were designed to do. Oxygen deprivation leads to a host of problems including acquired cerebral palsy and even death. The dependence on these instruments also reduces the staff's ability to observe and act on problems that are visually evident. Additionally a recent report shows that the rate of births resulting in cerebral palsy has not changed since World War II, despite the introduction of fetal monitoring products 30 years later. This complacency in combination with low effectiveness calls into question whether fetal monitoring products as they are right now should be extensively used without additional modifications.

Hospital personnel are understandably reliant on equipment that is supposed to minimize risk and increase the ability to determine whether or not an individual acted appropriately under the scrutiny of a medical malpractice lawsuit. Hospitals must retain fetal monitor strips, which are attached to a baby's scalp during a birth, after any problematic birth as important pieces of evidence to support or disprove legal claims.

New guidelines for monitoring births are being clarified and implemented today and hopefully will increase the efficiency and consistency of fetal screening during childbirth. Although the majority of births go smoothly and without a hitch, birth injuries do occur frequently enough to be a problem. Children with birth injuries may have permanent disabilities or health problems or may pass away prematurely. If your child has suffered a birth injury then contact a personal injury lawyer quickly to determine whether you are still within the statute of limitations to file a lawsuit can recover damages.