For a woman who is getting close to her due date during pregnancy, every single muscle twitch in the abdominal area is scrutinized. By that point, the big question at every doctor’s visit is trying to find out when the baby will make an appearance. For some women, the discomfort and just still being pregnant might lead them to try to get induced. While some medical professionals might be willing to induce women, there are many reasons why induction should only be used as a last resort.
When a woman is induced, she is more likely to need a Caesarean section. This is partially due to the constant electronic fetal monitoring. Another reason is that the induction might not go as planned, which puts pressure on the medical staff to move things along and get the baby delivered by using a C-section. Of course, a C-section also carries the risks of major surgery. These include infection and blood clots.
There is also a chance that the induction could cause the baby to be born prematurely, despite the short amount of time until your due date. Even being slightly premature can lead to problems right after birth and long after. With the chance of prematurity and the drugs used to induce labor, there is also a chance that the baby will have to spend time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit because of breathing problems. Pitocin, a medicine given to induce labor, has been shown to affect a newborn’s breathing ability.
Any woman who has had her labor induced and ended up having complications for herself or her baby might have the right to seek compensation for the birth injuries, especially if the induction wasn’t medically necessary. Knowing about how to file these claims in Kentucky might make deciding how to proceed a little easier.
If you think you may have a Kentucky or Ohio birth injury claim, schedule a free consultation with a Covington or Cincinnati medical malpractice lawyer at The Lawrence Firm, PSC as soon as possible.
Source: Cafe Mom, “Inducing Labor: 8 Reasons It Should Be a Last Resort” Maressa Brown, May. 08, 2014