‘Assisted delivery’ is when an instrument, such as forceps or a vacuum device, is used to aid the delivery of an infant. Assisted deliveries should only be performed when they are required to deliver a newborn baby without resorting to surgery. When forceps and vacuum deliveries are performed correctly, they are generally safe and do not harm the infant. However, when assisted deliveries are performed negligently, the newborn may suffer serious injury.
What is a Forcep Delivery?
Forceps are a medical tool that resembles tongs. Forceps may be recommended when the baby is in the occiput anterior position, which means that the baby is in a head-down position with their body facing toward the mother’s back. The tongs are positioned symmetrically around, and the baby is gently pulled or guided out of the birth canal.
Forceps can be a useful device to assist delivery. When labour is not progressing, the use of forceps can prevent the need for a cesarean section delivery. When they are used correctly, they can be safe and effective. Additionally, in most occupations, forceps deliveries are safer for the baby than vacuum deliveries. However, even when performed correctly, they can result in vaginal tears, lacerations, and blood loss for the mother.
There are also a number of ways that forceps deliveries can be performed negligently:
- Inadequate Informed Consent: Failing to fully inform the mother of the risks and benefits associated with a forceps delivery, and proceeding without obtaining proper informed consent can be negligent.
- Incorrect Placement of Forceps: Placing the forceps incorrectly on the baby’s head or using improper technique for placement can cause harm to the baby.
- Excessive Force: Applying excessive force while using forceps can cause injury to the baby’s head, neck, or spine.
- Failure to Monitor Fetal Distress: Neglecting to monitor the baby’s distress signals or failing to recognize signs of fetal distress before attempting a forceps delivery can lead to complications.
- Failure to Consider Alternative Methods: Proceeding with a forceps delivery without considering other safer alternatives or when it’s not appropriate for the situation can be considered negligent.
- Inattentiveness to Maternal Health: Neglecting the mother’s health conditions or disregarding potential complications that may affect the forceps delivery process can lead to negligence.
- Improper Handling of Forceps: Mishandling or misusing the forceps during the delivery process, leading to injuries or trauma to the mother or baby, can be considered negligent.
If forceps are used negligently during a delivery, it can lead to various severe injuries to the baby. Here are five potential injuries that a baby may suffer due to negligent use of forceps:
- Head Trauma and Skull Fractures: Negligent use of forceps can cause trauma to the baby’s head, including skull fractures or cephalohematoma (a collection of blood under the skull bones). This can result in long-term complications and potential brain damage.
- Facial Nerve Damage: Improper application or excessive force during forceps delivery can injure the baby’s facial nerves, causing facial paralysis or weakness.
- Brain Injury and Intracranial Hemorrhage: Negligence during forceps application can result in brain injuries such as hemorrhage or bleeding within the skull. Intracranial hemorrhage can lead to severe brain damage and long-term neurological issues for the baby.
- Eye Injuries: Negligent use of forceps can cause trauma to the eyes, leading to conditions like retinal hemorrhage, damage to the optic nerve, or other vision-related problems.
- Cerebral Palsy or Neurological Disorders: Improper use of forceps can cause significant brain damage or oxygen deprivation, leading to cerebral palsy or other neurological disorders.
Any use of forceps during delivery should be carefully and skillfully executed to minimize risks. Negligent use of forceps can have lifelong consequences for the baby and may warrant legal action to seek compensation for the harm caused.
What is a Vacuum Delivery?
A vacuum delivery, also known as vacuum extraction or ventouse-assisted delivery, is a medical technique used during childbirth to assist in the delivery of a baby. It’s typically employed when the mother is in the second stage of labour (the pushing stage) and requires help to facilitate a safe and timely birth. The procedure involves using a vacuum device to gently suction the baby’s head, aiding in its descent through the birth canal.
Vacuum extraction is generally considered safe and effective when performed by skilled healthcare professionals. It’s often chosen as an alternative to forceps delivery or cesarean section when fast intervention is needed to assist with delivery. However, there are several ways that vacuum deliveries can be performed negligently by health professionals.
Here are some ways that a vacuum delivery can be performed negligently:
- Insufficient Informed Consent: Failing to obtain informed consent from the mother, explaining the risks, benefits, and alternatives of a vacuum delivery.
- Failure to Monitor Progress: Neglecting to adequately monitor the progress of the vacuum delivery and adjust the technique or abort the procedure if complications arise can lead to unnecessary risks and injuries.
- Improper Assessment of Suitability: Failing to assess the suitability of the patient for a vacuum delivery, considering factors like the baby’s position, the mother’s pelvis size, and the overall health of both the mother and the baby.
- Incorrect Application of the Vacuum Cup: Placing the vacuum cup incorrectly on the baby’s head, using the wrong size or type of cup, or failing to create a proper seal can result in ineffective suction and compromised vacuum delivery.
- Excessive Suction Force: Applying excessive suction force through the vacuum device can cause trauma to the baby’s scalp.
- Improper Traction or Pulling: Applying excessive or improper traction during the vacuum extraction can lead to injuries like brachial plexus injuries, intracranial hemorrhage, or cerebral palsy.
- Ignoring Warning Signs: Disregarding warning signs of fetal distress or maternal complications during the vacuum delivery and continuing with the procedure can lead to severe harm to both the mother and the baby.
If a vacuum delivery is performed negligently, the baby can get seriously injured. Here are five potential injuries following a negligent vacuum delivery:
- Skull Fractures: Improper placement or excessive force with the vacuum extractor can cause fractures to the baby’s skull bones, potentially leading to complications and long-term issues.
- Subgaleal Hemorrhage: Excessive force during vacuum extraction can cause bleeding in the subgaleal space, which is the potential space between the scalp and the skull. This condition can lead to severe blood loss and shock in the baby.
- Brachial Plexus Injury: Traction or excessive force during vacuum extraction can cause injuries to the nerves in the baby’s shoulder and arm, resulting in conditions like Erb’s palsy or Klumpke’s palsy.
- Oxygen Deprivation: Negligent vacuum extraction can lead to compression of the umbilical cord or interference with blood flow to the baby’s brain. This can result in oxygen deprivation, which can cause brain damage if not promptly and appropriately addressed. Prolonged oxygen deprivation during labour or delivery can lead to cerebral palsy.
- Facial Nerve Damage: Incorrect placement or excessive force with the vacuum cup can cause damage to the baby’s facial nerves, potentially resulting in facial paralysis or weakness.
Contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today
If a vacuum or forceps delivery has been performed negligently and, as a result, you or your baby have suffered serious injury, you should consider contacting a medical malpractice lawyer. At BIMMA, we have a team of experienced medical malpractice lawyers who can provide you with legal advice. We offer free consultations. If you contact us, we can assess your case, and provide you with our honest opinion. If legal action is commenced, we will be by your side every step of the way. Contact us today at +1-902-425-7330 or toll-free at +1-800-465-8794.
