Approximately one-third of all infants in the United States are born via Cesarean section or C-section. Some C-sections are planned because the mother or baby has certain risk factors that make vaginal delivery an unsafe option. In other cases, a mother plans to have a traditional birth but complications require an emergency Cesarean delivery. C-sections can often prevent medical complications that would have likely been caused by traditional delivery. However, when a C-section is performed incorrectly, delayed, or performed unnecessarily, preventable birth injures may occur.  

Delayed C-Sections  

Obstetricians and other medical professionals must carefully evaluate the mother’s medical history and the baby’s health in order to determine whether or not a C-section is a safe delivery method. C-sections are often ordered when the infant is in a breech or transverse position or shows signs of fetal distress. A C-section may also be ordered if the mother experiences problems such as:

• Prolonged labor
• Failure to progress normally during labor
• Umbilical cord prolapse
• Uterine rupture
• Placental abruption
• Placenta Previa

The decision to perform an emergency C-section is one that must be made swiftly. If a doctor waits too long to perform a C-section, the baby may suffer from oxygen deprivation, which can lead to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, cerebral palsy, and other forms of brain damage. When a doctor fails to order a necessary C-section or delays a C-section and the mother or infant is harmed as a result, the mother may have a valid medical malpractice claim.