Birth Injuries: Common C-Section Injuries

C-sections in the United States have become more popular in the last decade: According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately one-third of all children born in the U.S. are born via C-section. While many C-sections are performed out of medical necessity, an increasing number of women see the procedure as a safe, quick alternative to a traditional birth. However, an improperly performed C-section poses significant risks to both the mother and the child.

Types of C-Section Injuries

One of the more common causes of injury is a delayed C-section. C-sections are often performed to avoid injuries caused by fetal distress, preeclampsia, diabetes and umbilical cord prolapse. The goal is to deliver the baby as quickly as possible. Sometimes, however, physicians incorrectly delay a C-section, or even fail to schedule one entirely, resulting in severe injuries to the child. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the need for the C-section, improperly delaying the procedure can lead to:

-Lack of oxygen, resulting in autism, cerebral palsy and other infant brain damage;

-An increased risk of physical injury to the child during delivery; and

-Physical and mental developmental delays.

A major lawsuit was recently filed against Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center because of a delayed C-section. In that lawsuit, the hospital failed to properly monitor the Plaintiff – whose pregnancy was identified as “high-risk” – and to respond to signs of distress. The Plaintiff suffered a uterine rupture and, by the time the C-section was performed, the child had suffered severe and permanent brain damage. This could happen in any hospital, whether it be the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, or the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Anesthesia injuries are also common. Several medications are commonly administered to the mother to relieve the pain of surgery. If the medication is administered at the wrong time or if the wrong dosage is given, several complications can develop, including

-Low blood pressure;

-Placenta previa;

-Blood clots; and

-Placental abruption.

Surgical injuries are another common cause for concern. While C-sections are widely believed to be a simple, safe and effective means of giving birth, as indicated by the Hershey Medical Center, it must be kept in mind that C-sections are major surgery that carry all the typical risks associated with any surgery. First, there is always a risk of fetal laceration if the C-section is improperly performed. Depending on the depth and location of the laceration, these injuries can cause serious permanent injury or death. There is also a risk the mother or child will develop an infection, or that the mother will suffer blood clots or hemorrhaging.

At the Law Offices of Alvin F. de Levie, Esq., we have decades of experience handling a wide range of birth injuries, including those caused by improperly performed C-sections. If you, your child or a family member was injured as a result of an improperly performed C-section, please call our firm – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – at 844-777-2529 (Toll-Free) for a consultation. One of our team members will be in immediate contact with you. We maintain offices throughout Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, State College, Bellefonte and Lock Haven, and we are willing to meet any clients throughout the Commonwealth.