For many mothers, an epidural is a saving grace in the delivery room. When in the throes of labor, an epidural can reward an exhausted mother with greatly reduced pain and discomfort. If an epidural is not properly administered, however, the mother could suffer serious health complications, and her baby could suffer a life-altering birth injury.
Understanding the Risks of an Epidural
Every medical procedure comes with risks. Childbirth is no exception. A mother can have her birth perfectly planned, but things may change along the way. There could be complications during delivery. A mother may find herself having an emergency C-section, no matter how much she wanted to avoid it. And there could be problems because of the epidural.
An epidural is considered a local or regional anesthetic. The lower part of the body is numbed with an epidural analgesic or epidural anesthesia that is injected directly into the epidural space around the spinal cord. The injection results in the loss of sensation and the loss of pain, therefore a major benefit during childbirth.
The anesthesiologist has three important jobs: determining the appropriate dose of medication for pain relief without causing unnecessary risk to mother or baby, precisely administering the epidural, and monitoring mother and baby for changes that could have been caused by the epidural. If an anesthesiologist makes an error in any of these areas, serious problems can result.
Epidural Complications for a Mother
Preventable epidural complications can be minor or major for a mother and include the following:
- Prolonged labor
- Backache
- Headache
- Shivering
- Nausea or vomiting
- Postpartum hemorrhage
- Abnormal uterine activity
- Paralysis
- Septic meningitis
- Heart attack
- Stroke
Epidural Complications for a Baby
An epidural may not work the right way for a mother, and it could also produce horrible side effects for the baby, including some that are irreversible:
- Abnormal fetal heart rate
- Fetal oxygen deprivation
- Drug toxicity
- Jaundice
- Pure muscle tone and strength
- Poor sucking reflex or other breastfeeding problems
- Brain injury
- Stroke
- Hyperactivity as a child
A mother’s temperature could increase during labor due to an epidural. If this occurs, the risk of infant injury rises and could result in increased risk of lower blood oxygen which calls for ventilation after birth and could result in seizures or other complications.
If an epidural is administered too soon and interferes with the second stage of labor, this could increase the likelihood of a doctor needing to use vacuum extractors or carry out an emergency C-section. Complications in these procedures could cause irreversible birth injuries, like cerebral palsy or hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.
Did an Epidural Change Your Life Forever?
The effects of anesthesia can vary from person to person. Most mothers feel the effects of their epidural wear off over a brief time and experience no complications. Some mothers, unfortunately, suffer a lifelong impact from their labor and delivery experience.
If you suffered a permanent injury because of a poorly administered epidural, lack of monitoring by your anesthesiologist, or mistakes by your labor and delivery team, you have the right to compensation. If your baby was harmed and will suffer permanently because of a preventable injury, you could be a victim of medical malpractice.
Contact Thurswell Law for a free consultation. Our experienced attorneys are prepared to get you the compensation you deserve. We do not charge any fees unless you collect. Call (248) 354-2222 today to schedule your consultation.
