Dangers of a Breech Delivery and Oregon Medical Malpractice
Many people are aware that a baby is supposed to be head down (occiput anterior) for the safest and easiest delivery. Unfortunately, that does not always happen. The baby could be head down, but facing the wrong way (occiput posterior), or could be side-lying (transverse), or breech. Generally speaking, babies who are breech at the time of delivery should be delivered by c-section for the safest delivery possible. If a physician chooses to attempt a vaginal delivery in the setting of a baby being breech, this can be incredibly dangerous. If a physician performs a vaginal delivery for a baby who is breech and complications occur, it is considered to be negligence.
How is Breech Position Diagnosed?
A baby is not considered to have a diagnosis of being breech until the very end of the pregnancy, as babies still have the opportunity to change positions up until the very end of the third trimester. Generally, babies are diagnosed as being breech after 35 weeks. A manual examination can be performed by a physician to determine the positioning of the baby, but an ultrasound is typically done to confirm the position if the baby does not appear to be in the proper position for delivery.
Causes of Breech Presentation
Often times, there is no known cause for a breech presentation, but certain conditions can increase the likelihood of a baby being breech. Examples of these conditions include the following:
- Placenta previa
- A pregnancy with multiples
- A maternal history of a premature delivery
- Presence of abnormal uterine growths
- An abnormally shaped uterus
- Maternal history of prior pregnancies
- Presence of too much amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios)
Management of a Baby With a Breech Presentation
Attempting a vaginal delivery for a baby with a known breech presentation is incredibly dangerous. Vaginal delivery for a baby who is breech carries many risks and should generally be avoided entirely. A c-section should be the method of delivery for babies who are breech.
Risks of Delivery a Breech Baby Vaginally
There are many complications that can occur if a baby is delivered breech. Examples of these complications include the following:
- Umbilical cord prolapse
- Brain injuries
- Nuchal cord (cord is wrapped around the baby’s neck)
- Fetal Distress
- Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
- Nerve damage
- Seizures
- Developmental delays and disabilities
- Head trauma
- Injury to the cervical spine
- Cerebral palsy
Medical Malpractice Due to Mismanagement of Breech Presentation
As stated above, performing a vaginal delivery for a breech baby is incredibly dangerous. If a physician chooses to deliver the baby vaginally and complications occur, they are liable for any of these complications. The patient may be permanently disabled due to complications that can occur due to delivering breech, and some infants may not survive. A c-section should always be the method of choice for a breech delivery, so if your child suffered complications from a breech vaginal delivery, we strongly encourage you to contact our office today to discuss what your rights are and what compensation you and your child may be eligible for.
Breech Delivery and Oregon Medical Malpractice
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.