December 14, 2021
The Weitz Firm, LLC

Birth injuries can be extremely serious, leading to issues such as cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, disability, or even death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around seven in every 1,000 children suffer from a birth injury.

One of the many ways that birth injuries increase in probability is delayed delivery. Unfortunately, mothers sometimes inexplicably experience pregnancies that are long overdue. While this is not always a reason to panic, it may lead to complications that can be overlooked by negligent physicians. Camden birth injury attorneys from The Weitz Firm, LLC have extensive experience in the world of medical malpractice and want to warn you of the possible implications of physician oversight in delayed deliveries.

Possible Causes of Delayed Delivery

Prolonged labor, failure to progress, and delayed delivery are common terms for someone who is struggling to give birth on time. There are many reasons why a delayed delivery may happen, all of which are not entirely understood by medical experts. In any case, delayed deliveries can have serious impacts on the health of a baby – born or unborn. These risks should be treated promptly to avoid serious injuries to mother and child.

Some factors may make the possibility of a delayed delivery more likely. While many of these are believed to contribute to the risk of delayed delivery, the exact reasoning behind these factors is not entirely understood. Knowing some of the warning signs, however, may prepare you in the case of delayed birth.

  • Maternal obesity or diabetes
  • Abnormally shaped maternal pelvis
  • History of maternal pelvic trauma
  • A child with macrosomia/cephalopelvic disproportion
  • Labor dystocia
  • Older-than-average mothers
  • Drug use by the mother
  • Improper usage of medications that affect labor
  • Dehydration
  • Congenital vaginal septum
  • Osteomalacia
  • And more…

Medical Malpractice in the Context of Prolonged Labor

There are many actions that a physician may take or fail to take, resulting in the injury or even death of a mother or child. These are common examples of incidents that lead to medical malpractice, birth injury, and medication error legal cases.

  • Delayed decision to perform Cesarean section
  • Failure to provide oxygen to a newborn
  • Improper administration of medications to the mother
  • Improper use of vacuums, forceps, or other equipment
  • Lack of staff on duty to assist in the delivery of the baby
  • Failure to recognize a high-risk pregnancy
  • Failure to react to a baby being delivered in an abnormal position

Where to Turn After a Birth Injury

A slew of legal implications may occur after medical oversight in the context of delayed delivery. This may include medication errors, failure to diagnose, hospital negligence, and birth injury, among others.

It is critical that you seek legal help after experiencing issues due to the negligence of a physician. The Weitz Firm, LLC provides Camden birth injury attorneys who are well versed in this field, fighting for the rights of families after troublesome births day after day. To learn more, call us at 267-587-6240 or click here where a representative will address your questions regarding a birth injury case.

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