When a woman and her unborn baby need help moving through the labor and delivery process, medical professionals may use a variety of interventions to support them. One of those interventions is vacuum suction, which attaches a vacuum cup to a baby’s head and pulls the baby through the birthing canal. While many babies in Pittsburgh have been safely born with the use of vacuum suction, the intervention does pose risks that can cause serious birth injuries to mothers and infants.
For example, a vacuum-assisted delivery can result in a range of injuries to a baby’s head, neck and upper body. From minor injuries to the child’s scalp to serious fractures to the bones of the head, vacuum suction can be a hard process on a delicate newborn.
Birthing mothers can also experience injuries when vacuum-assisted deliveries are performed. They may suffer from pain and tearing in their bodies, as well as anemia, bladder problems and even weakening of the muscles and ligaments of the lower torso. Because vacuum-assisted deliveries can impose so many possible complications on mothers and babies, they should only be undertaken when absolutely necessary.
Expecting parents should be made aware of the risks they may face when interventions are suggested during labor and delivery. A mother who consents to an intervention without knowing what possible harm she or her child could face may have rights to seek compensation for their pain and suffering. Additionally, when mistakes are made during the labor and delivery processes, medical professionals may expose themselves to claims of medical malpractice based on the birth injuries and losses their negligence created.