When a woman gives birth in a Tennessee hospital or birthing center, she can be confident that the obstetrician and medical team attending to her and her baby will provide quality care to keep her and her infant safe during labor and delivery, as well as throughout the postpartum phase of childbirth. Obstetricians are specially trained to recognize signs of maternal or fetal distress. In such cases, it may be necessary to order a cesarean section delivery to protect the health and safety of the mother and child.
There are numerous issues that may arise during labor or during prenatal care that would alert an obstetrician to problems. Ordering a C-section in a timely manner could be a life-saving event. On the other hand, not ordering a C-section when one is necessary can have disastrous results, such as severe birth injuries.
Issues that create a medical emergency for a C-section delivery
There are various issues that may arise during childbirth, all of which could create an urgent medical situation, which often compels a typical obstetrician to order a C-section:
- Labor has not progressed
- Baby has turned into a breech, posterior or transverse position
- Umbilical cord tangled or compressed
- Maternal heart rate or blood pressure too high
- Uterine rupture
- Abruption of placenta
The need for a C-section can arise suddenly. However, an obstetrician knows how to recognize signs of an emergency and knows what to do to increase a baby’s chances of being born in a safe and efficient manner.
Birth injuries because of medical negligence
Medical negligence is something that should never occur. Sadly, many birth injuries in Tennessee and throughout the country were determined to have been preventable were it not for failure to order a C-section in a timely manner. In such cases, parents may act on a child’s behalf to seek justice by filing a medical malpractice claim in a civil court.