Denver C-section Delay Attorneys
What Happens When an Essential C-Section Is Not Performed?
Natural childbirth can be dangerous for both mother and child. When it is, a competent medical team should step in and decide to perform a cesarean section, commonly referred to as a C-section, to prevent major birth injuries.
An emergency C-section can be a lifesaver. But sometimes a physician, due to carelessness, lack of experience, lack of equipment, or some other reason, doesn’t perform a C-section in a timely manner. A delayed C-section can lead to serious health consequences or even death for either the mother or the baby.
If your child was injured due to a delayed C-section, it’s crucial to speak with an experienced Denver obstetrical malpractice lawyer to discuss your legal rights and options. Contact the top-rated legal team at Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. by calling (303) 759-9945 today for a FREE consultation. We’ll review your medical situation, and if we determine you have a case, we will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
When is a C-Section Becomes Necessary?
A doctor should be able to assess a pregnancy in the late stages to decide what’s best for the mother and the baby. A natural birth? Induced birth? A scheduled C-section? For example, if the child’s head seems too large to fit through the mother’s pelvis (cephalopelvic disproportion), a C-section could prevent the baby from getting stuck, saving the child from oxygen deprivation.
During every childbirth, a doctor must remain on guard for dangerous complications and be ready to perform an emergency C-sections if that’s what is necessary to get the baby out safely. Here are some common reasons why an emergency C-section might be the best course of action:
- Fetal distress: When the baby’s heart rate drops too low or stays low for a prolonged period of time. This can cause fetal distress.
- Uterine rupture: This happens when the uterus tears during delivery.
- Prolonged labor: Sometimes the cervix does not dilate enough, and labor doesn’t progress. The baby may be in danger of oxygen deprivation.
- Placenta previa: This occurs when the placenta is too low in the uterus, and it covers the cervix. If untreated, it can lead to hemorrhaging in the mother.
- Cord prolapse: This happens when the umbilical cord comes out before the baby does. The cord can then be compressed as the baby travels down the birth canal, cutting off the baby’s supply of oxygen. It can result in brain damage or even stillbirth.
What Are the Possible Outcomes of a Delayed C-Section?
A delayed C-section can result in serious harm to both the baby and the mother. Here are some common consequences of a delayed C-section:
- Brain damage: Everyone needs to breathe to remain healthy, and oxygen deprivation is a major concern during childbirth. If the airflow is delayed for too long, it can result in serious consequences for the baby that could last a lifetime.
- Hypoxic-ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), also known as neonatal encephalopathy, is a possible result of natal oxygen deprivation. The permanent loss of brain cells may cause a lifetime of problems, including impaired cognitive ability, seizures, and inhibited motor function.
- Cerebral palsy: This degenerative medical condition can result from a lack of oxygen during childbirth. There’s no cure for this disability, which causes severe physical and intellectual issues, requiring a lifetime of special care.
- Brachial plexus injuries: The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that conducts signals from the spine through the shoulder and all the way down to the fingers. Injuries to the brachial plexus frequently occur during delivery when these nerves can be stretched or torn. Also known Erb’s palsy or Klumpke’s palsy, depending on whether the upper or lower nerves are affected, it can result from mishandling during birth or a difficult or obstructed labor.
- Shoulder dystocia: A rare but dangerous complication is when the baby’s head emerges but the shoulder is physically stuck on the mother’s pubic bone. Once this happens, it’s too late for an emergency C-section, and the baby can suffer damage to the brachial plexus nerve cluster while the doctor tries to tug them out, often causing the loss of functionality in the arm.
A Needlessly Delayed C-Section May Be Medical Malpractice
An entire team of medical professionals is tasked with keeping both mother and baby safe during childbirth. If the medical team is not properly trained, if their equipment is lacking, or if for any other reason the doctor or nurses fail to act in a timely manner during a childbirth, it may be considered an act of negligence resulting in medical malpractice.
If an obstetrician (OB/GYN) declines to call for a C-section in a timely manner, the effects can be catastrophic or even fatal for the mother or the child. In these cases, the law provides you with the right to pursue just compensation.
Contact Our Top Denver Birth Injury Lawyers for Help
If your doctor’s delay to perform a C-section resulted in injury to your baby, call Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. at (303) 759-9945 for a FREE consultation.
Our experienced Denver delayed C-section attorneys know how complicated medical malpractice can be, and we will fight for your child’s rights. As parents ourselves, and nationwide leaders in the field of birth injury litigation, we know what to do. If you believe your doctor was negligent, please don’t wait. Contact us today and let us hear your story.
Additional Information
- When Childbirth Goes Wrong, Can You Sue?
- What Is a C-Section? - National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- Cesarean Section - MedlinePlus
- Cesarean Delivery - Merck Manuals
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