Holding Medical Professionals Accountable For C-Section Injuries
Emergency C-sections are performed when complications arise during vaginal birth. These complications can include abnormal fetal position or heartbeat, twisting or compression of the umbilical cord, stalled labor, shoulder dystocia (baby stuck in birth canal when lodged behind pubic bone) or from possible asphyxia within the birth canal.
During these instances, continuing with a vaginal birth could be harmful to mother or child. Doctors will often perform an emergency C-section to save a baby from oxygen deprivation and its potential consequences, such as cortical blindness, Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), cerebral palsy, and mental retardation.
At The Law Office of Robert H. Kleinschmidt, P.C., in Scottsdale, we work hard to help hold negligent medical professionals accountable and to help you recover the full and fair compensation to which you are entitled.
C-Sections Are A Serious Surgical Procedure
During a typical C-section, the woman is awake, and an epidural is used to numb her from the chest down. An incision is made to the abdomen, then into the uterus and amniotic sac. The baby is then pulled from the uterus, its nose and mouth are cleared of fluids, and the umbilical cord is cut.
If an expectant mother has complications during pregnancy, has a communicable disease that could be transferred to the baby, such as HIV, herpes or hepatitis C, or has undergone a previous C-section, a cesarean delivery may be planned well in advance of her due date.
Although C-sections are relatively safe procedures, they do present several risk factors to mother and baby. For the mother, risks include blood loss and clotting, infection, and possible problems with future pregnancies.
Cesarean Section Risks To Babies
Babies born via C-section also face increased health risks. These risks include the following:
Respiratory distress — cesarean section babies are more likely to suffer from respiratory problems due to anesthesia.
Cuts and abrasions — although it is rare (2 babies in 100), a child may suffer lacerations or nicks at the time of incision during surgery.
Low birth weight babies — If a baby is diagnosed as having a low birth rate, it could be that his gestational age was calculated incorrectly
Low APGAR scores — A New Zealand study indicated that babies born to mothers who were given general anesthesia during their c-section surgery, had lower APGAR scores at the 5-minute mark, than babies born by spontaneous vaginal birth.
Contact Us For A Free Initial Consultation
When filing a negligence claim against a doctor or hospital for your child’s birth injury, you should have an experienced trial lawyer on your side. Attorney Robert H. Kleinschmidt has more than 25 years of litigation experience in the field of medical malpractice. Call his office today at 480-951-3949 or contact us online to arrange for a free consultation. From our Scottsdale offices, we provide representation to people throughout the greater Phoenix, Arizona, area.