Cesarean section – “C section” – can be a lifesaver for a baby who gets in trouble during natural childbirth. But it has its own perils to both mother and baby. These include:
- The C-section may have only become necessary because labor was unwisely “induced” by use of Pitocin, a powerful synthetic form of the hormone oxytocin which stimulates uterine contractions. The baby can be born prematurely because its age was miscalculated.
- The C-section itself can cause injury to the mother. A common injury is damage to the ureters that drain urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Another is damage to bowels and other pelvic organs. If the C-section was justified as an emergency procedure, these injuries often do not amount to malpractice. HOWEVER, the failure to recognize an injury before closing the patient’s belly can be malpractice if it leads to further harm to the mother.
- A C-section can make a woman vulnerable to rupture of the uterus during natural delivery of her next baby. We cover this subject in our web page on VBAC – vaginal birth after cesarean.
Consult with an Experienced Malpractice Attorney
If you believe you or a family member has been seriously injured from medical malpractice, medical error, or neglect by a doctor, hospital, nurse, clinic, nursing home or other health care provider, you may want to click here to contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney for a free evaluation of your case. You can also email us at info@patrickmalonelaw.com or call us at 202-742-1500 or 888-625-6635 toll-free. We will respond within 24 hours. There is no charge for our initial consultation.
