Helping Families When Birth Injuries Result From Delayed Delivery
When Is An Emergency C-Section Warranted?
If a doctor confirms that a baby is in fetal distress, then a cesarean delivery may be necessary within a short window of time to prevent birth asphyxia. Here are some of the conditions that may warrant an emergency C-section:
- Abnormal fetal positioning or presentation in the birth canal
- Meconium aspiration syndrome (aspiration of fecal material and amniotic fluid)
- Compressed umbilical cord; nuchal cord (cord is wrapped around baby’s neck)
- Lack of blood supply or oxygen to the baby’s brain
- Premature separation of the placenta (placenta previa)
Demanding Accountability When Hospital Or Doctor Negligence Results In A Failure To Plan
An expectant mother relies upon her obstetrician to monitor her health and the health of her unborn child. When an obstetrician breaches that duty by failing to use their knowledge and skills to adequately care for the patient(s), it can be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
It is protocol for an obstetrician to schedule a glucose-screening test for an expectant mom between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy to detect the presence of gestational diabetes. If a woman is diagnosed with gestational diabetes, she is often at risk for giving birth to a large for gestational age (LGA) infant.
As a woman’s pregnancy progresses, her doctor may be able to determine the size of the fetus by measuring the mother’s abdomen or by ordering ultrasound scans. If tests indicate that a baby is extremely large, the baby is likely to have difficulty passing through the birth canal during delivery.
If a doctor fails to plan for the delivery of the child by C-section, knowing that the infant’s size can compromise a normal vaginal delivery, the doctor may be putting the health of the mother and child in jeopardy.
Birth Risks Associated With LGA Infants
An LGA infant is at risk for becoming lodged within the birth canal during labor. The baby may not be able to pass beyond the pubic bone and is prone to birth injuries and complications such as:
- Shoulder dystocia and Erb’s palsy
- Oxygen deprivation and asphyxia (Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy)
- Cerebral palsy due to birth asphyxia and ensuing central nervous system damage
- Leukomalacia (necrosis or death of the white matter in the brain)
Long-Term Health Needs Of Catastrophically Injured Children
A doctor’s delay in a birth unit can result in a lifetime of pain and suffering to your child. If you sense that a doctor’s error has resulted in catastrophic neurological delays in your child, please call us as soon as you suspect your child is injured or impaired. We will do everything in our power to obtain justice for your child and to seek the type of settlement or jury award that can provide for his or her long-term health needs.
Contact Our Arizona Lawyer For A Free Initial Consultation
Our office is conveniently located on East Via de Ventura, near North Pima Road. Please call us today at 480-951-3949 or contact us online to speak to a Scottsdale malpractice attorney about your child’s case.