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Consequences of Failing to Perform a Timely C-Section

Consequences of Failing to Perform a Timely C-Section

When it comes to childbirth, Caesarean sections are among the most often performed surgeries. A C-Section is performed when vaginal delivery is not possible or in the mother’s or child’s best interests. All operations, including C-Sections, have some risk; therefore, a doctor and their staff should carefully evaluate all of the extenuating circumstances before performing one. The health of the baby and the mother might be jeopardized if a C-Section is delayed or refused for no good reason at all. A birth injury lawyer in Philadelphia provides you with all the information you need about the consequences of not performing a timely C-section.

Why Go for a C-Section?

C-sections are used in roughly one-third of all births in the United States. A C-section may be recommended and scheduled ahead of time by a doctor. A previous C-section, an ongoing infection, or a pregnancy complication like placental abruption or placenta previa can all contribute to this. Some expectant mothers choose to plan a C-section delivery ahead of time, so they know precisely when and how their kid will be delivered when the time comes. A C-section is often necessary when labor isn’t going well, or the infant appears to be in peril.

Fetal heartbeat monitoring is used in modern obstetric facilities to guarantee that a baby’s heart rate remains constant and adequate during delivery. Regular checks by the nursing staff and the delivering Obstetrician are made on these monitor strips to look for the concerns. The doctor will frequently order an emergency C-section if they decide that the infant is in danger. Most of the time, it’s a quick fix to a possible concern, and the baby is delivered safely. Delayed action might have fatal effects when there is evident anguish.

In the following scenarios, medical practitioners may contemplate a C-section as a possible delivery option:

  • If a fetus is endangered due to lack of oxygen, 
  • If a placental abruption is possible
  • The fetus may suffer from umbilical cord compression.
  • Mother’s blood pressure is very high or low
  • The baby’s position does not allow for a vaginal birth.
  • Due to the baby’s size, vaginal birth is not an option.
  • The mother’s cervix does not dilate.
  • Extensive Childbirth

FHRMs play a significant part in deciding whether or not a C-section is necessary. In many cases, an abnormally high fetal heart rate suggests that the infant has trouble breathing (asphyxia).

The need for a C-Section may be indicated if these bouts of heart rate irregularity continue to occur. It’s a problem when a medical team isn’t ready to perform surgery until the baby is in a life-threatening state of asphyxia. The Obstetrician may be unaware of fetal discomfort since medical personnel appears to have the matter under control, or the doctor may be actively involved and intentionally decide against performing a C-section in this situation. Regardless of the outcome, the baby’s health might be jeopardized.

What Injuries Are Caused by a C-Section?

C-section births, while safer, are nonetheless fraught with dangers. While some injuries are unavoidable, others are the direct consequence of medical malpractice or mistakes made by medical staff.

Following a cesarean section, women are at risk for a variety of injuries.

Injuries Associated With Anaesthesia:

Usually, an epidural or spinal block is provided to the mother during a C-section to offer pain relief. Both the dose and the mother’s reaction to it must be considered while administering the medication. Anesthesia injuries such as the following can be caused by incorrect dosage or complications, such as:

  • Low Blood pressure 
  • Bleeding internally
  • Clots in the blood
  • Unbearable headaches
  • Abruption of the placenta

Surgical Errors in Pregnancy:

However, even though maternal surgical injuries are exceedingly rare, the consequences can be life-threatening. During a C-section, it is possible to cut or injure a neighboring organ, resulting in surgical damage. Additional surgery may be necessary to restore damage if organs such as the bladder or intestines are damaged.

Infections During Pregnancy:

After every kind of surgery, including C-sections, there’s a chance of a maternal infection developing. To guarantee that the incision site is appropriately sterilized, doctors must exercise considerable caution. Post-surgery care must include medicines and adequate wound care, among other things. Without proper treatment, the mother is in danger of contracting illnesses like:

  • Streptococcus
  • Endometritis
  • infection within the fetus
  • High Fever

If the doctor attempts a vaginal delivery when the mother is infected, the baby might pass the virus. In both vaginal delivery and surgery, infection risk must be evaluated.

Blood Clotting:

Another danger following a C-section is the development of blood clots. It is possible to avoid them by closely monitoring the mother and allowing her to walk 24 hours following surgery. If a blood clot forms, it poses a threat to the brain, heart, and lungs because it can break apart and spread throughout the body.

Hemorrhaging:

After surgery, there’s always the possibility of further bleeding. Hemorrhaging can develop after a C-section if the bleeding is not controlled. A blood transfusion may be necessary if the bleeding is severe or uncontrolled.

Injuries Resulting from C-Section Errors:

A mother can suffer birth injuries during an elective c-section, such as failing to conduct a c-section, failing to do so on time, or making an error during the surgery. Despite warning indications, doctors may choose not to schedule a C-section. One of the most prevalent reasons for requesting a C-section is the presence of fetal distress. If the mother or baby is not closely monitored for signs of pain, a delayed C-section can happen. Many injuries can occur as a result of a postponed C-section. Infants can die in the worst-case scenario.

Attorney for Birth Injury :

The labor and delivery team’s numerous members collaborate to keep the mother and child safe while giving birth. It might be the consequence of the team’s carelessness or inability to monitor mother and child care, inadequate facilities to execute the necessary operation, lack of qualified staff to respond to the emergency. If you or your kid has suffered a birth injury, you should be aware of the resources accessible to you or your loved one.

When you’re a patient, you have the right to care that satisfies generally recognized standards of excellence in medicine. The failure to do so may cause you to bring a medical malpractice lawsuit against the healthcare professional or institution responsible for it. An experienced birth injury lawyer or a law firm can provide you with additional information about your legal rights and recovery alternatives after a birth injury.

Do you know what legal options are at your disposal? Get in touch with the attorneys at Philadelphia Injury Lawyers for a free consultation.

Medical Malpractice Lawyer Philadelphia

Is Birth Injury Considered As A Medical Malpractice?

Birth Injury

Undergoing birth delivery has its own risk, both to the expectant mother and unborn child. This is why most expectant parents amidst the excitement still have growing fears of what might arise while inside the delivery room. Birth related injuries do happen but can be prevented if the medical doctors and nurses attending the delivery have performed their responsibilities well. If you are already expecting your baby anytime and want to know what grounds a birth injury is considered as medical malpractice.

Can birth injuries occur?

Sad to say, but it’s a fact that birth injuries occur and could affect any expectant mother who is about to give birth. There are various ways birth injuries could happen, and in most cases, there are two scenarios to look into:

  • The doctor or medical professional failed to assess the risk or treat the condition of the expectant mother.
  • Birth injuries are due to negligence during prenatal care.

In the first scenario, the doctor may have failed to diagnose accurately the actual condition of the expectant mother such as the presence of hypertension, failure to check the heart rate of the baby, or miscalculated the need to perform a caesarian procedure. If this happens, and the birth injury resulted from this kind of situation, medical malpractice can be filed against the attending doctor and medical staff or file a claim against the hospital where the delivery took place.

In the second scenario, negligence during prenatal care, again the attending doctor, medical staff, or pharmacist may be held accountable if the wrong prescription was given and led to the adverse complications to the expectant mother including the unborn child. If there is found irregularities during the prenatal care, according to a medical malpractice lawyer in Philadelphia, the mother can file a medical malpractice case.

How to prove medical malpractice in case of a birth injury?

For your birth injury case to have grounds for medical malpractice, there should be proofs like a medical report showing the detailed medical condition of the mother or baby during pregnancy and after birth. The opinion of a third party may be used to validate medical malpractice like seeking another medical professional of similar specialization to testify and proved that mistakes or errors have been done that put the mother and baby at greater risk.

Where to get help for a medical malpractice claim?

Birth injuries can be prevented at all costs if an experienced medical professional like the doctor has done everything to reduce the risk during the expectant mother while under his or her care during prenatal care and while giving birth.

If you or someone you loved has become a victim of birth injury, the person who can be of help is an expert in medical malpractice like an attorney in Philadelphia with many won cases on medical malpractice lawsuits. Learn more about how you can protect your legal rights while under the care of a medical professional, talk to a legal representative right now to review your case.