Cleveland Medical Malpractice Lawyers Making the Connections Between Delays in Delivery and Birth Injury
Delaying delivery can be harmful to both the mother and the baby
Every woman’s labor is unique, even from one pregnancy to the next. In some cases, labor is over in a matter of hours. In others, labor tests a mother’s physical and emotional stamina. Labor is broken down into three “stages.” In the first stage, the cervix opens (dilates) and thins out (effaces) to allow the baby to move into the birth canal. This is the longest of the three stages of labor. It can last several hours, especially in first- time mothers. It ends when the cervix is dilated to 10 cm and it is time to push.
The second stage of labor is the “pushing” stage. It can take from a few minutes to more than an hour or two before the baby is delivered. Finally, in the third stage, steps are taken to deliver the placenta.
Ideally, everything goes smoothly in labor and delivery. The mother progresses through the “stages” as described above, and a healthy baby is delivered. Sometimes, however, a problem develops that requires quick action by doctors and nurses. Perhaps the mother isn’t progressing as expected and the baby is beginning to struggle. Some babies are better than others at dealing with the changes in the uterus that occur in labor. Doctors and nurses are trained to identify clues that a baby is having trouble in the uterus. When that occurs, steps must be taken to speed up the delivery, so that the baby can be rescued before it suffers a significant injury.
It takes skill and experience to go through medical records in detail after a complicated labor and delivery to connect the dots and identify causes of medical negligence leading to an injury to a mother or baby. Our medical malpractice attorneys have been holding Cleveland medical professionals accountable for nearly 40 years. At The Eisen Law Firm, our only focus is protecting families from negligent healthcare professionals.
Preventing injury through prompt delivery
When necessary, medications can be given to help a mother move through the process more quickly. If that doesn’t work, or if electronic fetal monitoring shows signs of asphyxia (decreased oxygen) in the baby, a rapid surgical delivery (C-section) may be necessary.
Unfortunately, doctors and nurses don’t always recognize the signs of a baby struggling in the uterus or the need for intervention. A nurse may recognize the problem but fail to involve the doctor quickly enough. A doctor may be notified of a problem but fail to react quickly enough to rescue the baby. When the appropriate action is not taken promptly, the baby can be seriously injured.
Attorneys at The Eisen Law Firm have successfully represented several families whose children have been injured due to a delay in delivery. We have the experience and expertise to look into the causes of the delay and to determine whether the delay could have been avoided.
Preventing labor from progressing too quickly
Sometimes labor begins prematurely or, once begun, progresses too quickly. Hospital personnel may miss the signs and symptoms that labor is premature or too moving fast. Fortunately, this does not always harm the patients. When it does, the attorneys at The Eisen Law Firm are here to help you recover the compensation you deserve. Schedule a free initial consultation by calling us at 216-687-0900 or contact us online. Our firm represents injured victimsin Cleveland, Lorain, Columbus, Toledo, Akron and throughout Northeast Ohio.
Contact our Ohio birth injury attorneys today for a free initial consultation to discuss your negligence case
Schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced Cleveland medical malpractice attorney today to discuss any complications that arose during childbirth and determine if you have a case