When complications arise during labor, every minute matters, especially when a baby’s oxygen supply is at risk. An emergency C-section is often the only way to prevent severe brain injuries or lifelong disabilities in these circumstances.
But when doctors fail to act quickly, a delayed C-section can lead to preventable harm. In these situations, families may have grounds for a birth injury lawsuit.
If you believe a delay contributed to your child’s condition, our Michigan birth injury lawyers can review what happened and explain your legal options in a free consultation.
When Is an Emergency C-Section Needed?
Emergency C-sections are performed when the health of the baby or, in some cases, the mother, is in immediate danger. Although C-sections can be planned in advance for high-risk pregnancies, emergency procedures typically happen when complications develop suddenly during labor.
These surgeries are meant to prevent catastrophic outcomes, particularly those involving loss of oxygen to the infant. Complications that may require an urgent C-section include:
- Breech Birth or Abnormal Fetal Position: Babies positioned feet-first or sideways are at higher risk for oxygen loss and traumatic delivery injuries.
- Umbilical Cord Problems: A cord wrapped around the neck (nuchal cord) or a cord prolapse can cut off oxygen within minutes.
- Placental Complications: Placental abruption or placenta previa can prevent oxygenated blood from reaching the baby.
- Failure to Progress in Labor: If the baby cannot safely descend through the birth canal, prolonged pressure can lead to oxygen deprivation.
- Maternal Infections or Uterine Rupture: Emergencies like uterine rupture or infections can quickly endanger the baby’s life.
Each of these complications poses the threat of interruption of oxygen flow, which may lead to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), cerebral palsy, developmental delays, or other long-term disabilities.
If your child experienced oxygen loss during birth, contact the Michigan birth injury lawyers at Fieger Law to learn whether a delayed C-section may have played a role.
How Oxygen Loss Happens During Delivery
For a newborn, just a few minutes without enough oxygen can cause irreversible brain damage. Many delivery complications affect the umbilical cord or the baby’s ability to breathe safely during the birthing process.
Oxygen deprivation may result from:
- Cord compression due to a long, difficult labor
- Nuchal cord cutting off oxygen to the brain
- Placental abruption restricting oxygenated blood
- Shoulder dystocia, where the shoulder becomes stuck behind the pelvic bone
- Maternal low blood pressure or hemorrhage
Doctors and nurses are trained to recognize signs of fetal oxygen loss quickly. When those signs appear, the standard of care often requires immediate intervention, which may include ordering an emergency C-section.
If your baby now shows signs of brain injury or developmental delays after complications during delivery, our experienced team can review what happened and advise you if you have an injury claim for no cost.
Warning Signs That an Emergency C-Section may be Required
Medical staff rely on constant monitoring to detect fetal distress. The most common and critical sign of trouble is abnormalities on the fetal heart rate monitor, such as:
- Late decelerations
- Lack of variability
- Prolonged drops in heart rate
Other red flags include maternal bleeding, severe pain, stalled labor, or signs that the baby is not tolerating contractions.
An experienced doctor should respond immediately to these warning signs. Waiting too long, even minutes, can be the difference between a healthy baby and one with permanent disabilities.
If your medical team ignored or failed to act on these warning signs, reach out to Fieger Law for a free case review.
Understanding Medical Standard of Care in Delayed C-Section Cases
In birth injury lawsuits, the question is not whether complications existed; they happen in many perfectly managed deliveries. Instead, it’s whether the doctor met the medical standard of care.
This standard means: What would a reasonably skilled doctor with similar training have done under the same circumstances?
If another competent doctor would have ordered an emergency C-section earlier, the delay may legally qualify as medical malpractice. That delay must also be linked to the baby’s injury, such as brain damage, HIE, or cerebral palsy.
Michigan families dealing with the consequences of delayed medical care have the right to hold negligent providers accountable and secure compensation for lifelong medical needs.
If you believe your doctor waited too long to perform a C-section, resulting in your child’s injury, schedule a free consultation with our Michigan birth injury lawyers to learn whether malpractice occurred.
How Michigan Birth Injury Lawyers can Help Your Family
Birth injury cases are complex, emotional, and medically technical. Experienced attorneys investigate medical records, consult experts, analyze fetal monitoring strips, and work to determine exactly when the C-section should have happened.
At Fieger Law, we’ve spent decades representing families affected by preventable birth injuries. We understand the challenges you’re facing, and we know how to fight for the answers and compensation you deserve.
Call Fieger Law today. Your initial consultation is free, and we’ll make sure you feel informed, supported, and prepared for what comes next.
