A cephalopelvic disproportion is a condition that develops during labor and delivery where it is determined that the baby’s head is too large to pass through the birth canal during a vaginal delivery. When this happens the medical staff typically labels the situation as a “failure to progress.” Because cephalopelvic disproportion means prolonged labor with the baby essentially stuck in the birth canal, there are significant risks that the baby will suffer a birth injury. It is incumbent upon the medical staff to immediately take appropriate steps to manage the delivery to prevent injury to the. If fact, oftentimes cephalopelvic disproportion could have been avoided altogether if the doctor and other medical staff considered risk factors as they made plans for how to manage labor and delivery. If you believe that your baby suffered serious complications related to cephalopelvic disproportion because the medical staff was negligent, contact an experienced New York cephalopelvic disproportion lawyer who will review your case and help determine what when wrong.
Risk factors for cephalopelvic disproportionBabies that are relatively large are at risk for cephalopelvic disproportion. Thus, if the mother has diabetes, if the due date is passed so that the baby is postmature, and if it is not the mother’s first pregnancy, there is a greater likelihood that the baby will be large. There are tests such as an ultrasound that can help determine the size of the baby.
In addition, if mother has a small pelvis, if the mother has an unusually shaped pelvis, or if the baby is an unusual position the risk for cephalopelvic disproportion increases. The size of a mother’s pelvis can be measured using an MRI or an x-ray.
If cephalopelvic disproportion occurs, there are steps that the doctor can take to try speed up the delivery. For example, oxytocin is a drug that can be administered to help labor progression. Changing the position of the baby sometimes helps.
Complications related to cephalopelvic disproportionThere are several serious complications that can develop with cephalopelvic disproportion. If the baby gets stuck in the birth canal and the doctor attempts to delivery using a vacuum extractor or forceps, there is the possibility that the baby will suffer facial lacerations, skull fracture, eye trauma, or seizures. With cephalopelvic disproportion there is also the risk that the baby’s brain will be deprived of oxygen, leading to serious problems such as paralysis, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, seizures, and other problems associated with brain damage.
Recovering damages related to cephalopelvic disproportionWhile considered a natural process, labor and delivery is a very complex process. Complications often occur. While it is not always possible to prevent a complication, there are many instances in which the doctor has enough information prior to delivery to take steps to avoid cephalopelvic disproportion. For example, if the mother has diabetes and a small pelvis, it is foreseeable that the baby will be large and that the risk for cephalopelvic disproportion is significant. As a New York cephalopelvic disproportion lawyer will explain, if your doctor’s negligence contributed to your child’s cephalopelvic disproportion injury, you have the right to demand compensation based on your child’s medical expenses related to the injury. If your child suffered brain damage due to the negligence, the associated lifetime expenses for your child can easily be hundreds of thousands of dollars or more. You can also demand payment for your child’s decreased quality of life and for your child’s diminished future earning potential.
ExamplesDiana is a petite and healthy 24-year old with no pre-existing conditions that would point to a pregnancy complication. However, several weeks into her pregnancy she developed gestational diabetes. Her doctor failed to diagnosis it. Her doctor prepare for a vaginal delivery, but the baby got stuck and failed to progress. Finally, the baby was delivered using forceps. The baby suffered lacerations, a skull fracture, and moderate brain damage. Devastated, Diana and her husband contacted a cephalopelvic disproportion attorney in New York to discuss options for filing a medical malpractice claim.
Contact the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & AssociatesIf your baby suffered a birth injury such as cerebral palsy, developmental delays, or a seizure disorder related to cephalopelvic disproportion, it is understandable that you want answers. If your doctor failed to respond appropriately to the cephalopelvic disproportion and as a result your baby was injured, you have the right to demand compensation for your baby’s lifetime medical needs. The cephalopelvic disproportion attorneys serving New York at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates have years of experience successfully representing injured clients. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent clients in the following locations: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.