Every year, flu season brings added concerns for pregnant mothers. However, many families don’t realize that influenza complications can also increase the risk of preventable birth injuries. Pregnancy naturally weakens the immune system, making mothers more likely to experience severe symptoms, dehydration, high fever, or respiratory distress. These complications can become dangerous for the developing baby when doctors fail to monitor, diagnose, or treat influenza properly.
Understanding how the flu affects pregnancy and what medical providers are obligated to do can help parents identify potential medical negligence when complications lead to a birth injury.
Why Pregnant Mothers Face Higher Risks During Flu Season
Pregnancy changes the body in ways that make influenza much more serious than a typical seasonal illness. These changes include:
1. Flu Symptoms Escalate Faster During Pregnancy
Because pregnancy affects lung capacity, circulation, and immune response, flu symptoms can worsen faster than expected. This makes timely medical action critical and also dangerous when providers delay or overlook signs of distress.
2. Respiratory System Vulnerability
Pregnancy restricts lung capacity and makes breathing more difficult during illness. The flu can quickly escalate into pneumonia, oxygen deprivation, or respiratory distress, which are all dangerous conditions for both mother and baby.
3. High Fever Risks for the Baby
Fevers over 102°F in early pregnancy are associated with increased risks of:
- Neural tube defects
- Brain development issues
- Heart abnormalities
Strong fever-reducing care and close monitoring are essential.
4. Increased Risk of Preterm Birth
Flu complications, especially severe infection or high fever, increase the risk of:
- Preterm labor
- Premature rupture of membranes
- Fetal distress
- Low birth weight
When these complications are not properly managed, they can lead directly to birth injuries.
Similar Post: Can Preventable Birth Injury Deaths Be Avoided With Better Protocols?
How the Flu Can Lead to Preventable Birth Injuries
Birth injuries linked to flu-related complications often occur because a doctor failed to act quickly or appropriately when symptoms appeared. Common scenarios include:
Oxygen Deprivation (Hypoxia)
If the mother struggles to breathe, the baby may not receive enough oxygen. This can lead to:
- Cerebral palsy
- HIE (hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy)
- Developmental delays
- Motor and cognitive impairment
Prompt treatment of maternal respiratory distress can prevent this.
Similar Post: What Are the Early Signs of a Hypoxic Birth Injury?
Failure to Monitor Fetal Distress
During severe flu illness, doctors must closely monitor the baby’s heart rate and overall condition. Failure to do so may delay necessary intervention, including an emergency C-section.
Untreated High Fever
If a mother’s fever goes unmanaged, the baby’s developing brain may be exposed to dangerous temperatures, increasing the risk of permanent injury.
Prescription Errors
Some medications are unsafe during pregnancy. Prescribing the wrong medication or failing to prescribe safe, pregnancy-approved antivirals can harm the baby.
Delays in Hospitalizing a Mother Who Needs Care
Doctors sometimes dismiss flu symptoms as normal pregnancy discomfort, delaying treatment until both mother and baby are in danger.
Each of these failures may constitute medical negligence when a preventable birth injury results.
What Doctors Are Required to Do During Flu Season
Doctors, nurses, and hospitals have a legal duty to protect both mother and baby. During flu season, the standard of care requires providers to:
1. Properly Screen for Flu Symptoms
Pregnant patients reporting fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, or chills should be evaluated promptly. Delayed testing or dismissal of symptoms is unacceptable.
2. Administer Timely Antiviral Treatment
CDC-approved antivirals, including Tamiflu, are considered safe and recommended for pregnant patients. Treatment should begin within 48 hours of symptom onset.
3. Closely Monitor the Baby
A baby’s heart rate, movement, and oxygen levels must be monitored whenever the mother is significantly ill.
4. Treat High Fever Immediately
Doctors must recommend safe fever-reducing methods and ensure the fever is controlled quickly.
5. Watch for Signs of Complications
These include:
- Pneumonia
- Dehydration
- Preterm labor
- Low oxygen saturation
Failure to recognize worsening symptoms can be life-threatening.
6. Order Hospitalization When Necessary
If the mother shows respiratory distress, high fever, or reduced fetal movement, hospital admission is often required.
7. Plan for Early or Emergency Delivery When Needed
If the baby is in distress, delaying a C-section can lead to permanent birth injuries.
If a provider fails to take these steps, the consequences can be devastating.
Similar Post: Can Parents Sue for Emotional Distress in a Birth Injury Case?
Signs That Flu-Related Medical Negligence May Have Occurred
Parents may suspect negligence when:
- The mother repeatedly reported symptoms but was dismissed
- Doctors failed to provide antiviral medication
- Fevers were not properly treated
- Fetal monitoring was delayed or inconsistent
- An emergency C-section was postponed despite warning signs
- The baby experienced oxygen deprivation at birth
- The baby was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy, HIE, or developmental delays
If any of these occurred, a deeper investigation may reveal that medical errors contributed to a birth injury.
What Parents Should Do If They Suspect a Flu-Related Birth Injury
If you believe your child’s birth injury may be connected to mismanaged flu complications, it is important to:
- Request all maternal and fetal medical records (including monitoring strips)
- Document symptoms and conversations you had with providers
- Track the mother’s timeline of illness and treatment
- Speak with an experienced birth injury attorney experienced in medical negligence cases
These cases are medically and legally complex, but they are also often preventable.
Concerned a Flu-Related Complication Caused Your Child’s Birth Injury? The Birth Injury Lawyers at Anapol Weiss Can Help.
If your healthcare team failed to diagnose, monitor, or treat flu complications during pregnancy and your child suffered a birth injury, you deserve clarity and support. Our birth injury lawyers help families uncover what went wrong, review medical records, and pursue the compensation needed for lifelong care. You do not have to navigate this alone and you do not have to guess what the hospital failed to do.
Contact Anapol Weiss today at 866-944-0553 for a free, confidential consultation. Your child’s health, safety, and future matter and we are here to stand with your family every step of the way. We work with families all across the state of Pennsylvania, including East Stroudsburg, Lancaster, Elizabethtown, and Philadelphia.
Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. It should not be considered as legal advice. For personalized legal assistance, please consult our team directly.