Medical Reasons for Assisted Delivery
The delivery of a baby is complex process that often requires the help of doctors and a nursing team to complete. While some women are able to deliver their newborns without medical assistance, there are cases in which problems with the mother requires doctors to perform an assisted delivery.
Assisted deliveries happen when obstetricians utilize forceps or a vacuum to help remove the baby. While these tools can be incredibly useful and even life-saving when used correctly, ineptitude and carelessness with these items can cause lifelong health problems to your baby. If your baby has suffered a birth injury from forceps or vacuum, call a Philadelphia birth injury attorney from the knowledgeable firm of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., today at 215-238-1130.
Some of the circumstances in which an assisted reason may be needed include:
Prolonged Labor
While a normal birth can last as long as 24 hours, there are times in which a labor becomes dangerously prolonged. Once the second stage of labor begins, it should last no longer than about 2 hours. If it continues, this can mean that the mother’s pelvis is too small for a baby, and the child may get stuck in the birth canal and suffer from other injuries.
Additionally, some women become too tired to continue pushing during the birth, and this exhaustion can prevent them from safely delivering the baby.
Epidural Anesthesia
When administered correctly, anesthesia can keep a mother from feeling the pain of the birth, allowing her to push without problem. However, if she receives too much of the drugs, it can block the nerves so that the mother is no longer able to push at all.
Medical Conditions
In some cases, a soon-to-be mom may have certain health issues that make it hazardous for her to spend a long, taxing time in labor. A vacuum-assisted delivery may be required if a woman has:
- High blood pressure
- Heart conditions like pulmonary hypertension
- Aneurysm
- History of stroke
Unfortunately, when forceps or vacuums are used incorrectly, they can cause more harm than good. If you or your child has been hurt by a obstetrician’s error, our Philadelphia birth injury attorneys can help.
Contact Us
If you or someone you know has needed an assisted delivery, yet it resulted in injury to your baby, you should contact the Philadelphia birth injury lawyers about your more options. For more information, call Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., at 215-238-1130 today.