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Kentucky Delayed / Negligent C-Section Lawyers
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Table of Contents
- What is a Cesarean section?
- When is a Cesarean section necessary in Kentucky?
- What are the risks of delaying a C-section in Kentucky?
- What are the risks of performing a C-section in Kentucky?
- How do you hold delivery doctors accountable for negligent medical care involving C-sections?
- Do you have a Kentucky Cesarean section lawyer near me?
What is a cesarean section?
Johns Hopkins Medicines defines a Cesarean section as a surgical delivery of a baby - through a cut (incision) made in the birth parent's abdomen and uterus. The incision made in the skin may be:
- “Up-and-down (vertical).This incision extends from the belly button to the pubic hairline; or
- Across from side-to-side (horizontal). This incision extends across the pubic hairline. It's used most often because it heals well and there is less bleeding.”
If your C-section is planned, competent OB/GYNs will explain how a C-section works, ask you to sign a written consent, explain that you should refrain from food or drink for 8 hours before the procedure, review any allergies, review what medications you’re taking including any blood-thinners, and provide other instructions.
Doctors perform a C-section in an operating room or a special delivery room. Usually, mothers are awake during a C-section – which often uses regional anesthesia such as an epidural or spinal anesthesia. Some of the steps that a Cesarean involves include:
- IV (intravenous) fluids
- Cleansing the skin with an antiseptic solution
- Having an anesthesiologist or a nurse assistant monitor your vital signs
- Making the incision(s)
- Opening the amniotic sac and delivering your baby through the opening
- Cutting the umbilical cord
- Removing the placenta and examining the uterus for tears or pieces of placenta
- Closing the incisions with stitches
- Closing the muscle and tissue layers with sutures
- Applying a sterile bandage
Nurses should then monitor your vital signs and your newborn’s vital signs. Breastfeeding can start in the recovery area, just as with a vaginal delivery. Your delivery doctors should give the mother at-home care instructions.
According to Moms Love Best, nearly one in three (32 percent) of all birth deliveries are C-sections. Older women are more likely to have a C-section than younger women.
When is a cesarean section necessary in Kentucky?
Some conditions can make the need for a C-section more likely. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, these include:
- An abnormal fetal heart rate. A normal fetal heart rate is 120 to 160 beats per minute. If necessary, the obstetrician may give the mother oxygen, increase fluids, or change the position of the mother. If those steps fail, a Cesarean may be necessary.
- An abnormal fetal position. The normal fetal position is “head-down, facing the mother's back.” An abnormal fetal position can make a vaginal delivery more difficult.
- A large fetus
- A difficult labor
- Placenta previa. Where the placenta blocks the cervix, placenta abruption (premature detachment), and other placenta disorders.
- Medical conditions in the mother, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or an HIV infection
- Other risk factors include:
- Active herpes sores in the mother’s vagina or cervix
- Twins or other multiples
- A previous C-section
- “A C-section is the safest way to deliver babies whose feet or buttocks enter the birth canal first (breech) or babies whose sides or shoulders come first (transverse).”
- Other complications that favor a C-section compared to a vaginal delivery include:
- A prolapsed umbilical cord
- A blockage
- A mother’s preference for a Cesarean, especially for the delivery of the mother’s first child, may be considered.
What are the risks of delaying a C-section in Kentucky?
Emergency C-sections may be necessary for many reasons. Our Kentucky C-section delay lawyers review whether a C-section was necessary and whether it was performed in a timely manner. Delays in C-sections can be harmful if:
- Any of the above risk factors present themselves
- A baby is not receiving the oxygen they need
- There are signs of fetal distress, including prolonged tachycardia or bradycardia
Time is critical. The delivery team should be ready and able to quickly switch from a vaginal delivery to a Cesarean section. Some of the birth injuries that may be due to a delayed C-section include:
- Cerebral palsy
- Brachial plexus injuries, including Erby’s palsy and Klumpke’s palsy
- Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
- Organ damage
What are the risks of performing a C-section in Kentucky?
Some of the complications of a C-section, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, include:
- Bleeding
- Bladder and bowel injuries
- Uterine infections
- Reactions to medications
- Abnormal separation of the placenta
- Infections
- Improper wound closure
- Blood clots
Generally, mothers who have vertical incisions will need to have a C-section for subsequent deliveries.
The Mayo Clinic identifies these additional dangers of a C-section:
- Newborn risks include breathing problems and surgical injuries.
- Risks to mothers include anesthesia reactions, surgical risks, and increased complications with subsequent pregnancies, including a higher risk of placenta previa and placenta accreta.
How do you hold delivery doctors accountable for negligent medical care involving C-sections?
At Crandall & Pera Law, we hold hospitals, obstetricians, and other members of the labor and delivery team accountable for C-section malpractice if they:
- Fail to obtain an informed consent for a C-section when there is time to do so
- Fail to recognize when a C-section is necessary before the mother goes into labor
- Fail to recognize when a C-section is necessary once the mother goes into labor and once the delivery starts
- Improperly delay a C-section procedure
- Negligently perform a C-section procedure
- Fail to monitor the mother and baby during the delivery
- Fail to monitor the mother and child after the delivery
Our Kentucky birth injury lawyers demand compensation for the financial injuries and personal damages of both mothers and newborns. We demand compensation for all:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Birth injuries
- Loss of bodily function
- Income losses of the mother
- The cost of caring for a newborn with birth injuries
- All other applicable damages
Do you have a Kentucky Cesarean section lawyer near me?
Yes. At Crandall & Pera Law, we meet parents and newborns at our Lexington, Kentucky office located at 201 E Main St., Suite 530. We also consult with mothers and fathers by phone and through online video conferences. If a mother or newborn is too ill to come to our office, we can make alternate arrangements to meet with you.
We understand your distress. We’re here to guide you through each step of the claims process.
Get help from our experienced Kentucky birth injury lawyers now.
At Crandall & Pera Law, we have more than 50 years of combined experience holding medical providers accountable for medical malpractice. Our Kentucky C-section delay and negligence lawyers have obtained strong recoveries (many for more than one million dollars) for many of our clients. Please call us or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We handle C-section birth and maternal injuries claims on a contingency fee basis.