Was Your Baby Delivered using Vacuum Extraction?
Goldberg & Osborn has information you should know about vacuum extraction birth injuries.
What is Vacuum Extraction?
Many deliveries progress without complications or injuries. Nonetheless, when a difficult birth does occur, the attending physician might choose to use medical equipment or procedures to assist with the delivery. Vacuum extraction is a medical technique used to assist with delivery when complications arise during childbirth.
The doctor places a plastic cup on the baby’s head and connects the cup to the vacuum extraction equipment. The mother’s pushing efforts and the suction of the cup help the baby to move through the birth canal faster.
Goldberg & Osborne has handled numerous medical malpractice claims, including birth injury cases.
Why do doctors choose to use vacuum extraction during childbirth?
In some instances, a doctor may decide to use vacuum extraction to assist with a safe delivery of a newborn. Whether this is the appropriate choice depends on the situation.
When a baby is facing feet first toward the birth canal or is stuck in the birth canal, other means might be a better choice for successfully delivering a healthy baby. If a doctor does not decide to help the situation quickly and carefully, a baby could suffer serious injuries or die.
What are some types of birth injuries related to Vacuum Extraction?
Two types of injury connected with vacuum extraction are cephalohematoma and caput succedaneum. The appearance of both cephalohematoma and caput succedaneum can be quite similar. Both conditions are identified by a soft, puffy swelling on the scalp. With caput succedaneum there may or may not show signs of bruising. With cephalohematoma, a considerable amount of blood may collect under the scalp. Even a fracture of the skull bone may occur.
This damage happens as a result of the added pressure to the baby’s head. Without the amniotic fluid safeguarding a newborn’s head at this point in the birth, the baby is at risk from the birth canal already. Adding the vacuum extraction increased the risk of one of these problems arising.
Normally, complete recovery can be expected, but jaundice can occur as the bruise is reabsorbed. Infection is another concern. If a fracture has occurred, the need for treatment must be assessed.
Contact Goldberg & Osborne if you have questions about a vacuum extraction that may have caused birth injuries to your newborn.
If your child was injured during childbirth because of the use of a vacuum extractor, you and your child may have compensation due to you for the physical injury, disability, anguish and grief, medical bills, and future health care costs that result. The law offices of Goldberg & Osborne work hard with concern and diligence, and are prepared to assist you with every aspect of your claim. We encourage you to fill out our short online form and submit it, or you may call our toll free phone number @ (800) 318-6316.
Each state has a statute of limitations for filing personal injuries claims. Contact Goldberg & Osborne as quickly as possible so your time does not run out.
