C-Section Injuries

A Cesarean section delivery, more commonly known as a C-section, is a procedure where a baby is delivered through an incision in the mother’s abdomen and uterus. This type of delivery is quite common in the U.S., with one in three babies born via C-section.

There are numerous reasons why C-section deliveries are performed, but they do carry risks to both mother and baby. C-section deliveries may be planned ahead of time if complications develop during pregnancy, if the mother has had a previous C-section delivery and is advised against attempting a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), if the mother is carrying multiples, or if the mother has a health concern such as a heart or brain condition. Emergency C-sections may also be performed during labor if the baby is under fetal distress, if the baby is in an abnormal position in the birth canal, if there is a prolapsed umbilical cord (the umbilical cord slips through the cervix before the baby emerges, risking cord compression and lack of oxygen or blood flow to the baby), or if labor is not progressing. Placental abruption or uterine rupture also necessitate an emergency or stat C-section delivery.

C-section deliveries may result in a number of complications that can lead to several different types of birth injuries. If you suspect that your child’s birth injury resulted from medical negligence, consider speaking with a Chicago birth injury lawyer from our firm. We handle cases all over the United States.

Fetal distress is a common sign that a C-section may be imminent, but sometimes physicians fail to carry out the procedure despite warning signs—or may miss those warning signs altogether. Failure to closely monitor mother and baby for signs of distress, or failure to secure an operating room in time to perform the surgery, may result in a delayed C-section. If the decision to perform a C-section is delayed, a myriad of problems may occur, including certain long-term effects: