Find out what a breech baby is and how it can lead to a medical malpractice lawsuit.
“Breech baby” refers to a situation in which a baby is positioned with his or her feet down rather than head down during delivery. It happens in about 3-5% of pregnancies and can lead to many complications, including the cutting off of the baby’s oxygen supply via the umbilical cord. A doctor has a duty to recognize a breech baby and take precautions to ensure a safe pregnancy.
If a baby is delivered in the breech position and suffers injury or harm, the parents may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit against the doctor. A malpractice lawyer from Newsome | Melton can help. For a free case evaluation, call 888-526-8947.
Liability for Complications from a Breech Delivery
Babies spend most of their gestation in the feet-down position. But in a normal, healthy pregnancy, the baby turns during the final weeks of pregnancy, positioning his or her head down to prepare for birth. In the rare case this step does not happen, a medical practitioner must act to promote a safe delivery. The doctor’s options include trying to manually turn the baby or, failing that, ordering a C-section delivery.
If your baby remains in the breech position late in pregnancy, your doctor should be able to feel through your stomach that the baby has not yet turned. A doctor who fails to take this step and hence does not realize a breech birth is taking place when labor begins has likely committed negligence. The same is true for a doctor who recognizes a breech baby but does not take aggressive enough steps to respond to the situation.
Risk Factors That Increase the Chance of a Breech Baby
Several risk factors make certain women more likely to deliver breech babies, including:
- Multiple past pregnancies
- Multiple babies in one pregnancy
- Previous premature births
- Too much or too little amniotic fluid
- Uterine complications, such as fibrosis or an abnormal shape
- Placenta previa
If you have one or more of these risk factors, your doctor should recognize it and be vigilant about screening you for a breech pregnancy as your due date approaches. A doctor who fails to take this step may be liable for malpractice if a breech delivery occurs and leads to the baby’s harm.
Call Newsome | Melton Today for a Free Breech Baby Medical Malpractice Evaluation
The medical malpractice lawyers at Newsome | Melton can help you recover damages from your doctor. If your baby suffered injuries from a breech delivery, we want to hear from you. We offer a free consultation and work on a no-win-no-fee basis. Call us at 888-526-8947 to speak with a team member today.
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