Prolonged Labor

Prolonged labor, also known as protracted labor, is a significant obstetric complication that can lead to serious harm for both mother and baby. When medical professionals fail to properly manage prolonged labor, the consequences can be devastating, potentially resulting in grounds for a medical malpractice claim. If your child has a birth injury, you may need Baltimore prolonged labor lawyer Mark Kopec.

Defining Prolonged Labor

Prolonged labor is generally labor that extends beyond a certain timeframe. The specific definition can vary slightly depending on the guidelines used, but it typically involves:

• First Stage:
  • Nulliparous (first-time) mothers: Labor lasting more than 20 hours.
  • Multiparous (multiple births) mothers: Labor lasting more than 14 hours.
• Second Stage:
  • Nulliparous mothers: Pushing for more than 2-3 hours (or longer with epidural).
  • Multiparous mothers: Pushing for more than 1-2 hours (or longer with epidural).

These timeframes serve as general guidelines, and assessment of progress, fetal well-being, and maternal condition is crucial in determining if labor is truly prolonged.

Medical Professionals Involved

Several types of doctors and other medical professionals are involved in the management of labor and delivery, and their negligence can contribute to complications arising from prolonged labor:

• Obstetricians (OB/GYNs): These physicians specialize in pregnancy, labor, and delivery. They are responsible for monitoring the progress of labor, identifying complications, and making decisions regarding interventions.
• Nurses (Labor and Delivery): Nurses play a vital role in monitoring maternal and fetal well-being during labor. They are responsible for reporting changes in vital signs, fetal heart rate, and labor progress to the physician.
• Midwives: In some settings, midwives provide care during labor and delivery. They are trained to manage normal labor but must recognize when complications arise and refer to a physician.
• Anesthesiologists: These physicians administer pain relief during labor, including epidural anesthesia. They are responsible for monitoring the patient’s response to anesthesia and managing any complications.
• Neonatologists: If the baby experiences complications due to prolonged labor, a neonatologist may be involved in providing specialized care.

Tests and Treatments

Medical professionals utilize various tests and treatments to monitor and manage prolonged labor:

• Fetal Monitoring: Continuous electronic fetal monitoring is essential to assess the baby’s heart rate and detect signs of distress.
• Cervical Examinations: Regular cervical examinations are performed to assess the progress of dilation and effacement.
• Ultrasound: Ultrasound may be used to assess fetal position, amniotic fluid levels, and estimated fetal weight.
• Amniotomy (Artificial Rupture of Membranes): This procedure involves breaking the amniotic sac to stimulate or augment labor.
• Oxytocin (Pitocin): This medication stimulates uterine contractions and accelerates labor.
• Cesarean Section (C-section): If labor is not progressing or if fetal distress occurs, a C-section may be necessary.

Potential Harm from Prolonged Labor

Prolonged labor can lead to a range of complications for both mother and baby:

• Maternal Complications:
  • Infection (chorioamnionitis, endometritis)
  • Exhaustion
  • Dehydration
  • Uterine rupture
  • Postpartum hemorrhage
  • Pelvic floor damage
• Fetal Complications:
  • Fetal distress
  • Hypoxia (oxygen deprivation)
  • Birth asphyxia
  • Meconium aspiration
  • Birth injuries (e.g., cerebral palsy, brachial plexus injury)
  • Fetal death.

Medical Malpractice Claims with Baltimore Prolonged Labor Lawyer Mark Kopec

Medical malpractice claims related to prolonged labor may arise from various forms of negligence, including:

• Failure to Recognize Prolonged Labor: If medical professionals fail to recognize the signs of prolonged labor and intervene appropriately, they may be liable.
• Failure to Monitor Fetal Distress: Neglecting to continuously monitor the fetal heart rate or failing to respond to signs of fetal distress can result in severe consequences.
• Improper Use of Oxytocin: Improper administration of oxytocin, such as excessive dosage or failure to monitor contractions, can lead to uterine rupture or fetal distress.
• Delay in Performing a C-section: Unjustified delays in performing a C-section when indicated can result in severe fetal injuries.
• Failure to Treat Infection: Untreated maternal infections can lead to serious complications and even death.
• Failure to Properly manage maternal exhaustion or dehydration.
• Failure to properly asses fetal size, and therefore causing difficult birth.
• Failure to properly assess the position of the baby, and therefore causing difficult birth.

To establish a medical malpractice claim, it is essential to demonstrate that the medical professionals breached the standard of care, and that this breach directly caused the injuries. This typically involves obtaining expert medical testimony to support the claim.

Next Step: Call Baltimore Prolonged Labor Lawyer Mark Kopec

If you or a loved one has experienced complications due to prolonged labor, it is crucial to seek legal counsel from an experienced medical malpractice attorney. We can evaluate your case, gather evidence, and advocate for your rights.

Visit our free consultation page or video. Then contact the Kopec Law Firm at 800-604-0704 to speak directly with Attorney Mark Kopec. He is a top-rated Baltimore birth injury lawyer. The Kopec Law Firm is in Baltimore and pursues cases throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C.