Helping Families Harmed by Delayed or Negligent C-sections
West Virginia birth injury lawyers advocate for families and children harmed by negligently performed C-sections
Cesarean delivery—also known as a C-section—is a surgical procedure by which a baby is delivered through incisions in the mother's abdomen and uterus. Some C-sections are planned ahead of time, especially if the mother is likely to develop pregnancy complications, but often the need for a first-time C-section does not become obvious until labor is underway. Delaying a C-section, especially where there are signs of fetal distress, puts the baby at risk of life-threatening disability, or death. An improperly performed C-section can cause serious injury to both mother and child.
Paulson & Nace, PLLC has helped families throughout West Virginia who had been harmed because of negligently performed or untimely C-sections. As a family-owned and managed law firm, we treat our client families as our own, providing legal expertise tempered by a compassionate understanding of their situations. Let our team of qualified West Virginia birth injury attorneys help you in your time of need.
Why C-sections are performed
There are times when a C-section is medically safer for the mother and baby than a vaginal delivery. A doctor might recommend it in cases of:
- Stalled labor. When the cervix does not dilate despite strong uterine contractions over several hours.
- Fetal distress. When reduction of the baby’s oxygen supply or changes in the baby's heartbeat are detected.
- Abnormal fetal position. When the baby has entered the birth canal feet or buttocks first (breech), or is positioned side or shoulder first (transverse), and repositioning efforts are unsuccessful.
- Multiple births. Where it is common for one or more of the babies to be abnormally positioned.
- Placenta previa. When the placenta partially covers the opening of the cervix.
- Umbilical cord problems. When the umbilical cord loops around the baby’s neck, putting it at risk of strangulation, or if the cord is being compressed by the uterus during labor.
A C-section may also be indicated if the mother has serious heart problems or high blood pressure that require urgent delivery or an infection such as genital herpes or HIV that could be passed to the baby during vaginal delivery. Other circumstances that may require C-section include a physical obstruction such as large fibroid tumors blocking the birth canal, a severely displaced pelvic fracture, or hydrocephalus causing fetal head enlargement.
Delayed or negligently performed C-sections may cause catastrophic injuries
Delay, carelessness, or error in performing a C-section can result in severe fetal brain damage, cutting and scarring of the fetus, maternal organ damage, transmission of bacterial infection from the mother to the baby, and maternal hemorrhage. Timing is critical. Delay can cause the mother or the child to go into cardiac arrest, or can result in fetal brain damage from lack of oxygen. Unnecessary performance of a C-section before the 39th week of pregnancy can cause developmental issues to arise later.
Paulson & Nace, PLLC’s family of West Virginia birth injury lawyers wants to help
West Virginia’s statute of limitations for medical malpractice is two years from the date the injury occurs, so it is important that you or your family seek legal advice as soon as possible. Our family-owned and managed law firm is widely recognized throughout West Virginia for the compassionate care and comprehensive legal services we provide to medical malpractice victims and their families. When you choose a birth injury lawyer from our firm to represent you, you are choosing a team that values family. Please call 304-741-8079 or fill out our contact form to tell us your story in a no-obligation consultation. Our office is located at 3501 Maccorkle Ave SE, Charleston, WV 25304.
We have dedicated our lives to helping medical malpractice victims. Let our family help yours.