Causes of C-Sections

Every expectant mother hopes for a smooth pregnancy, short labor, and delivery without any complications. Unfortunately, for some, it doesn’t always work out as they would hope. When problems arise, a c-section may become medically necessary.

Many of the c-sections performed today are performed because there is a medical reason why the mother cannot give birth naturally. It is estimated that 30% of all of the babies born are born via c-section now, and not all of those are given to people who are “too posh to push.”

Sometimes, difficulties are expected with the delivery and so a c-section is planned around the woman’s due date. These difficulties may be expected because of health problems the mother experiences, previous difficult births, and a variety of other reasons. Other times, the c-section may be an emergency c-section due to something that occurs during delivery.

If an emergency c-section is required, some of the common causes include:

• An abrupt stop or lack of progression in labor
• Separation of the placenta from the uterine wall too early in the progression
• The baby is stuck in the birth canal due to shoulders
• A pinched umbilical cord, which can have a negative effect on the baby’s oxygen supply
• The umbilical cord enters the birth canal before the baby
• Fetal distress i.e. the heart rate has dropped, is too fast, too slow, or doesn’t change at all
• The baby’s head and or entire body are too large for the birth canal

Contact a Pennsylvania Medical Malpractice Attorney

If you or your baby has been harmed due to the lack of an emergency c-section, contact the Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., P.c. at 610-667-7511.