Why Prolonged Labor Could Result in Oregon Birth Injuries Due to Medical Malpractice: Portland Birth Injury Lawyers Explain
Labor and delivery is said to be one of the most traumatizing times in a person’s life. But also giving birth is right up there in traumatizing times for a woman’s life. Most woman report that labor and delivery is the hardest, most painful, and most difficult thing they have ever done. And this is when everything goes correctly. Unfortunately, some mothers have a prolonged labor. While this could happen naturally, a prolonged labor could also be caused by controllable and preventable factors that doctors and healthcare providers could manage. Our Portland birth injury lawyers know that a prolonged labor is also a risky labor which could result in Oregon birth injuries due to Oregon medical malpractice. If a loved one was born in a difficult and prolonged labor, get some free medical malpractice advice to learn whether you have potential rights to compensation.
What is a Prolonged Labor?
A prolonged labor is a labor that progresses at a rate that is abnormally slow or which stops. Generally during a normal labor, a mother’s cervix should progressively dilate at a rate of no less than 1.2 centimeters per hour if it is a mother’s first pregnancy, or 1.5 centimeters per hour if not the mother’s first pregnancy. If a mother has dilated at a rate slower than these figures, she is experiencing a prolonged labor. She may also be experiencing an arrested labor, also known as a stopped labor.
Causes of a Prolonged or Stopped Labor
There could be several reasons for the delay or stoppage in labor. These reasons are dangerous to the mother and to the baby. This could be due to Oregon medical malpractice which could cause birth injuries. Some of these reasons including the following:
- Premature rupture of amniotic sac (water breaking);
- Poor positioning of the baby;
- Too large of a baby versus too small of a pelvis;
- Issues with excessive contractions, weak contractions, or inconsistent contractions;
- Material obesity;
- Issues with fetal distress;
- Umbilical cord blockage, rupture, damage, or other issues; and
- Many other causes.
Dangers of a Prolonged or Stopped Labor
A prolonged labor or a stopped labor is a dangerous labor. This is because there are usually issues relating to oxygen deprivation. This could mean that a baby is not receiving the correct amount of oxygen that he or she needs. Oxygen supply is very important because it can result in serious complications to a developing baby’s brain. Even minor hypoxic (or decreases in oxygen) could result in damage to a baby’s brain.
Prolonged labors that cause a decrease in oxygen could lead to several troubling and catastrophic diagnoses. This includes the following life-changing diseases:
- Cerebral palsy;
- HIE;
- Developmental delays;
- Traumatic brain injuries;
- Brain damage;
- Cognitive disability;
- Nerve injuries;
- Spinal cord injuries; and
- Other serious injuries.
Oregon Birth Injuries After a Prolonged Labor Could be Oregon Medical Malpractice
A prolonged labor usually needs immediately intervention. This includes an increase in Pitocin, forceps or other manual extraction efforts, or emergency c-sections. The failure to do so puts the mother and the baby, especially the baby, at risk for very serious personal injuries. If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form. We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.
Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles, St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.
We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.
Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law.
