Delayed C Section

New Jersey Delayed C-Section Injury Attorneys

Representing Medical Malpractice Victims in Morris County and throughout New Jersey

They waited too long for my C-section NJ medical malpractice helpA cesarean section, or C-section, is a procedure that is often used to deliver a child when there is a risk associated with a natural birth. C-sections are often planned in cases where the risks are known in advance of the birth. In some cases, however, the risks do not become apparent until delivery begins. In these cases, doctors must act quickly in order to ensure the safety of both mother and child. Any delay in performing a necessary C-section can have devastating consequences. When an error on the part of the doctor or another member of the medical staff results in a delay, it can create grounds for a medical malpractice claim. If you or your child is suffering in any way because of such an error, you should have your case reviewed by a qualified New Jersey birth injury attorney. At Fronzuto Law Group, you can rely on us to hold negligent medical professionals accountable when their errors cause significant harm to you or your baby. Please schedule a free initial consultation with our injury lawyers today by calling 973-435-4551 (toll free at 888-409-0816). You may also contact our law firm online.

When is an Emergency C-Section Necessary?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly 32% of all deliveries are cesarean births. C-sections are often performed because there has been a complication during labor that necessitates an emergency delivery because it is simply not safe for the baby to be delivered through the vaginal canal. When the mother’s health is at risk or there is a fetal health issue, the doctor may need to take urgent action and perform an alternative delivery such as a cesarean section. Given the potentially dire circumstances that typically give rise to C-section deliveries, it is often imperative that the procedure be performed immediately. In fact, when a C-section goes on too long, it can expose the mother and the child to additional health risks.There are many situations in which doctors must perform an emergency C-section, some of which include:

  • Fetal distress: can occur during pregnancy, labor, or delivery and is a sign of a birth complication that needs to be immediately addressed by doctors, often by performing a C-section. For example, when the baby’s heart rate drops, the baby is struggling to breathe due to birth asphyxia, or the mother’s blood pressure is too low, it may indicate maternal bleeding or some other kind of fetal distress.
  • Placenta previa: the placenta is located too low in the uterus, it can cover the cervix, block the passage of the fetus through the womb, and cause serious bleeding and hemorrhaging in the mother. The risk of injury or death for both mother and child is significant, which is why doctors may need to perform an emergency C-section to safely deliver the child.
  • Umbilical cord prolapse: A cord prolapse is a birth complication that occurs when the umbilical cord drops through the cervix into the vagina before the baby does. This causes the umbilical cord to become trapped against the baby’s body, which can cut off blood flow and oxygen flow to the baby due to compression. Without an emergency C-section, the baby may suffer permanent brain damage or death.
  • Slow heart rate: An abnormally slow heart rate, also known as bradycardia, may indicate that the child is not receiving enough oxygen due to the umbilical cord becoming wrapped around the baby’s neck or for some other reason. When doctors determine that the baby has a heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute, it may be necessary to perform a C-section and deliver the baby immediately.
  • Uterine rupture: this complication is extremely rare, but it poses significant health risks when it occurs. When the uterus tears late in pregnancy, it can cause the fetus to be expelled into the abdomen and result in severe bleeding. In the worst cases, uterine rupture can cause the baby to suffocate unless doctors perform an emergency C-section.
  • Placental abruption: When the placenta becomes separated from the inner wall of the uterus prior to birth, it can lead to birth asphyxia and severe bleeding in the mother. A major cause of placental abruption is high blood pressure, which can indicate a higher-than-normal risk of hypertension and bleeding in the uterus. Doctors need to be able to quickly identify the signs of placental abruption and may need to perform an emergency C-section to save the life of the baby and protect the child against long-term health problems.
  • Other labor complications: When labor fails to progress as expected, it can lead to slow or prolonged labor that puts the mother and the baby at risk. Doctors need to carefully monitor the mother during pregnancy and look for signs of delayed progress, such as cervical dilation that causes the baby to become lodged in the birth canal.

Complications from Delayed-C-Section

Surgical procedures, such as C-sections, almost always pose health risks. If doctors don’t follow certain standards of care when performing a cesarean section, a lot can go wrong for both the mother and the newborn. For instance, when doctors fail to diagnose a fetal complication and delay a C-section delivery, it can lead to further health issues for the mother and put the child at even greater risk of injury, illness, or death. These kinds of C-section errors are often caused by medical malpractice and, in many cases, are entirely preventable.

Quickly Identifying the Need for a C-Section

Timing is crucial when it comes to protecting the health of the mother and the child during pregnancy, especially if a serious complication arises. Doctors may need to take immediate action to save the life of the mother and to ensure that the child is born without any permanent disabilities or lifelong injuries. Any kind of delay in performing a necessary C-section can also result in infant death. That’s why medical experts call for doctors to perform an emergency cesarean section within 30 minutes of identifying an issue such as fetal distress, placenta previa, or uterine rupture.

Performing the C-Section Quickly

Once doctors decide that a cesarean section is necessary, it is imperative that they act immediately and complete the procedure as quickly as possible. A typical C-section delivery doesn’t take longer than 30 minutes, with many C-section births being performed in less than 5 minutes. The unnecessary prolonging of labor can have catastrophic consequences for both mother and child, including permanent brain damage when the fetus is deprived of oxygen during the prolonged or arrested labor. Additionally, given the potential health complications that can arise when a C-section is not performed quickly enough, it is important for doctors and nurses to closely monitor the mother during delivery.

Contact our Morris County NJ Birth Malpractice Lawyers for Help

At Fronzuto Law Group, Attorneys at Law, we represent victims in a broad range of cases involving delayed C-sections. We understand the situations that merit an emergency C-section, and we understand the harm victims can suffer when the C-section is not performed in a timely manner, including uterine rupture, fetal brain damage and other issues. Our attorneys conduct a complete investigation into every case to determine the extent of the injuries involved, the errors that led to them and who was responsible. We work to ensure that the negligent parties are held accountable and diligently seek the medical care and financial support you need. Our birth injury attorneys prepare every case as if it were going to trial, and our opponents know that we will not hesitate to take your case to court in order to protect your interests. Contact our offices to schedule a free initial consultation about your delayed C-section claim: 973-435-4551 (toll free at 888-409-0816).

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Our attorneys advocate for those who suffer injuries due to the negligence of physicians, nurses, other health care professionals, hospitals, and medical facilities.

Medical Malpractice

Our team addresses the most complex of pediatric malpractice cases, including rare conditions such as craniosynostosis and plagiocephaly.

Pediatric Malpractice

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Liability

Our attorneys advocate for those who suffer injuries due to the negligence of physicians, nurses, other health care professionals, hospitals, and medical facilities.

Wrongful Death

If you or your child suffers from a birth injury, Fronzuto Law Group can help.

Birth Injuries

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