A c-section is one of the best ways to avoid birth injuries. But, in order to be effective, it typically needs to be recommended and scheduled in advance. Failure to do so can result in injury both to the baby and to the mother. Today, we’d like to focus on the former by elucidating how a delayed c-section could end up causing injury to your newborn baby.
Failure to order a timely c-section can cause birth injuries. Here are the potential consequences of a delayed c-section.
Why Do Delayed C-Sections Occur?
First, let’s take a quick look at why delayed c-sections occur. Very often, we can attribute this to the negligence of a medical professional. Part of your doctor’s job is to carefully monitor your health and that of the baby during your pregnancy. By monitoring your baby’s heart rate and looking for other signs of distress, they can decide to order a c-section in advance to reduce the risk of harm to the baby.
But doctors do not always pick up on these signs of fetal distress, nor are they always present prior to labor. When a delayed c-section occurs, the baby is at risk.
Lack of Oxygen
When a doctor orders an emergency c-section during labor, the baby is likely to experience insufficient access to oxygen. Lack of oxygen can be devastating to a baby’s development, and it leads to many of the most familiar birth injuries. These include:
- Cerebral palsy (CP)
- Infant brain damage
- Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
Oxygen deprivation poses much less of a threat when a c-section has been scheduled and ordered well in advance of delivery.
Physical Injury
During difficult deliveries, a doctor may only order a delayed c-section when the baby has become stuck in the birth canal. In such situations, a doctor may have to use force to change the course of the delivery. This commonly results in an injury to the baby’s brachial plexus, otherwise known as Erb’s palsy.
Erb’s palsy is among the most commonly occurring birth injuries nationwide. It results in a lack of motor control of the arm. In some instances, it may resolve over time. But it also has the potential to result in a lifelong disability.
Here at the Snyder Law Group, we believe you should be able to trust medical professionals to ensure a safe delivery for you and your baby. If you believe a delayed c-section resulted in a birth injury, do not hesitate to contact us for a free case evaluation.
Contact The Snyder Law Group Today
The Snyder Law Group, LLC, proudly represents clients throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C. Our experienced Baltimore attorneys understand the frustration that comes with an insurance company, medical professional, or other party that refuses to accept liability for negligent or reckless behavior. You can take heart in knowing there are talented and experienced lawyers ready to work for you. We are experienced in handling personal injury claims of medical malpractice or injury resulting from serious car and truck accidents, and have secured hundreds of millions in verdicts and settlements. Please visit our website, www.410thefirm.com, for more information and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
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