New York Labor Induction

Typically, when a baby is ready for delivery, the mother will naturally go into labor. Ideally, this happens at about 40-41 weeks gestation. However, for a variety of reasons the doctor may need to induce labor. In some cases circumstances require that labor be induced preterm, while in other cases labor is induce post-term. Often, a drug called Pitocin is used to start contractions and induce labor. Pitocin is a synthetic form of the hormone oxytocin which a mother in labor naturally produces. However, there are dangers associated with inducing labor, and sadly, in far too many instances the baby is harmed due to the negligent management of labor induction. If your baby suffered a serious birth injury because of your doctor’s negligent management of your labor induction, it is important that you immediately contact an experienced New York labor induction Iawyer as you may be entitled to recompense related to the serious injuries your baby sustained.

There are a variety of reasons that the doctor may find it necessary to induce labor, including:

• Post-maturity
• Placental problems
• Fetal growth retardation
• Uterine infection
• Premature rupture of membranes
• Gestation diabetes
• Maternal high blood pressure
• Health of the mother or baby requires immediate delivery

Labor induction involves the stimulating of uterine contractions during pregnancy before labor naturally begins.

• Low heart rate. The use of a labor-inducing can cause excessive contractions which can diminish the oxygen supply to the baby.
• Uterine rupture. Hyperstimulation of the uterus from labor induction can cause a tear in the uterine wall at the site of the scar line from a prior c-section or other uterine surgery. A uterine rupture can put both the baby and the mother at risk for serious injuries. If a uterine rupture occurs, an emergency c-section is necessary to minimize harm to the baby and mother.
• Placental abruption. Labor induction also increases the risk of placental abruption, which happens when the placenta separates from the uterus prior to delivery.
• Postpartum bleeding. Because labor induction increases the likelihood that uterine muscles will not properly contract after delivery, there is a risk of excessive bleeding.

If your doctor induced labor and any of these complications occurred, contact a New York labor induction attorney to review your medical records to determine if negligence was a factor in the injuries that you or your child sustained.

Labor induction has risks and there are circumstances that contraindicate it. For example, if your baby is not head first, but is in a breech or sideways presentation, labor induction should not be attempted. Labor induction should also be avoided if there is a problem with the placenta such as placenta previa, if there is an umbilical prolapse, or if the mother had a prior c-section or uterine surgery. If the doctor decides to induce labor despite the presence of complications that contraindicate induction and as a result the baby suffers a serious injury, discuss the details of your case with a labor induction attorney in New York.

If your doctor made unreasonable decisions with respect to labor induction and as a result you or your baby suffered a serious injury, you have the right to file a medical malpractice claim and demand damages to cover the resulting medical expenses, lost compensation and pain and suffering.

If you suspect that your baby’s birth injury was caused by negligent treatment by a medical professional related to labor induction, do not hesitate to immediately contact an experienced labor induction attorney serving New York. The staff at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates have decades of experience winning substantial compensation for victims injured due to the negligence of others. 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.