Approximately 30 % of children born in the United States are born via c-section. This video explains the process and the reasons a c-section may be necessary. The reasons include:
Previous c-section
Large gestational age (LGA) child – large children risk getting stuck in the birth canal a condition known as shoulder dystocia which can lead to erbs palsy and/or a lack of oxygen and cerebral palsy
Breech Birth or Transverse position – Abnormal position of the child
Umbilical cord prolapse - abnormal position of the umbilical cord increases the risk of lack of oxygen to the fetus by flattening the cord when vaginal delivery is attempted and can lead to cerebral palsy
Placental problems- placental abruption placenta previa
Prolonged labor – labor slows or stops
Fetal distress- child’s heart rate demonstrates signs of distress such as a slow heart rate on the fetal monitoring strips. This can be a sign that the child is not receiving sufficient oxygen to his/her brain and can lead to brain damage
Maternal infections – genital herpes or HIV
High Blood Pressure or Diabetes
Many medical malpractice lawsuits are based on the theory that the doctors failed to recognize the conditions mentioned above or recognized the condition but failed to perform a c-section soon enough to avoid injuries like cerebral palsy and Erbs Palsy.
