Vacuum Extraction Injury

Giving birth is an exciting time, but it can be full of risks for the parent and child. If your doctor makes the decision to use a vacuum extraction device to deliver your baby due to complications, it can result in harm to both you and your baby. When physicians are negligent or untrained, your family suffers consequences and may be eligible to seek compensation.

At Lopez McHugh LLP, a birth injury lawyer is ready to hear your story and begin investigating the details of your claim. We manage the paperwork and legal complexities on your behalf while you focus on recovering from the trauma of a vacuum extraction injury. Schedule a free consultation to learn more about how we can help you.

What is Vacuum Extraction?

A vacuum extraction, also known as vacuum-assisted delivery, is a medical technique sometimes performed during the course of a vaginal birth. This procedure is used to assist when a parent cannot deliver by themself, and a forceps delivery is not possible. Ordinarily, the vacuum effectively aids in the birthing process.

However, when the equipment fails or is utilized incorrectly by medical personnel, serious birth injuries can occur. Both the parent and infant may be harmed and require extensive treatment to recover. In the worst cases, the baby is permanently disfigured or disabled.

What Happens During a Vacuum Extraction?

During a vacuum extraction, a doctor will apply a medical vacuum to the baby’s head, which is equipped with a special cup attached to a vacuum pump. This vacuum will help guide the baby out of the birth canal while the parent pushes at the same time. This procedure is recommended as a last resort to help labor progress faster when pushing is not enough and is usually recommended during the second stage of labor.

This procedure may also be recommended if the baby or parent is showing signs of distress and a more immediate delivery is necessary. Even though doctors recommend this procedure, there is a significant risk of injury to both the parent and baby. If vacuum extraction fails, an emergency cesarean section (C-section) may be required to deliver the baby safely.

Why Would My Doctor Choose This Procedure?

Doctors choose to perform a vacuum extraction if a parent’s labor is not progressing according to plan. They may decide it is time for a vacuum extraction when a parent’s cervix is fully dilated, their membranes have ruptured, and the baby has descended into the birth canal headfirst, but the parent cannot push the baby out.

Although vacuum extraction is intended to avoid performing a C-section, it will only be used in birthing centers or hospitals where the patient can be immediately moved to an operating room for a C-section if needed. The doctor may recommend a vacuum extraction in the following situations:

The Infant Is in Distress

One of the most critical issues to prevent during delivery is oxygen deprivation for the infant. During the process of labor, the level of oxygen passing through the umbilical cord is reduced, increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the baby’s bloodstream. This triggers them to take their first breath, which they cannot do if they are stuck in the birth canal. As a result, they may suffer brain damage.

The vacuum extraction is meant to reduce the time the child spends in the birth canal. Along with oxygen deprivation, the doctor may choose this method if the baby shows other signs of fetal distress, such as:

• Abnormally high (tachycardia) or abnormally low (bradycardia) heart rate
• Decrease in fetal movement or no movement at all
• Abnormal levels of amniotic fluid

The Second Stage of Labor is Too Short

During the second stage of labor, the parent actively pushes the child through the birth canal. This process typically lasts about two hours for a first baby but can be much faster for successive births. When the second stage is very rapid, the contractions could be too frequent for the parent to rest in between them.

In addition, the child may be harmed by the pressure changes as the muscles contract and expand quickly during the contractions. Vacuum extraction may be used to prevent intracranial injury and reduce the parent’s physical stress.

The Second Stage of Labor Is Too Long

If the second stage of labor lasts more than two hours, known as failure to progress, the doctor may elect to use the medical vacuum. Other indicators for vacuum extraction include when the contractions have slowed down, become irregular, or have stopped. Again, the child is at risk of oxygen deprivation, which can lead to serious physical and cognitive damage.

The Parent Has a Physical Limitation

The parent may become exhausted during the 12-24 hours involved in a typical delivery. They are usually not allowed to eat or drink until the child is born, leaving them with little energy during the physically grueling process. When labor lasts over 20 hours, the doctor may elect to perform vacuum extraction.

In situations where the parent has a health condition, such as cardiac disease, that would make a prolonged labor risky, they and their doctor may decide to use vacuum extraction.

Why Would My Doctor Advise Against Using Vacuum Extraction?

There are some instances where the doctor may advise against using this procedure if it may increase the risk of injury to the child. These include:

• The parent is less than 34 weeks pregnant.
• The baby already has an identified condition that affects the strength of their bones, such as osteogenesis imperfecta, or a bleeding disorder, such as hemophilia.
• The baby’s head has not moved past the midpoint of the birth canal.
• The position of the baby’s head is unknown.
• Some part of the baby’s body, other than its head, is entering the birth canal, such as in a breech birth.
• The baby may be too large to fit through the birth canal.

After delivering the baby, the doctor will examine the parent and baby for injuries that the vacuum extraction may have caused. If the parent experiences any damage to tissue (tears), these must be repaired. If an episiotomy is performed, it will also be repaired. The baby must be monitored after being born for signs of birth injury, such as cerebral palsy.

When Might My Doctor Stop Attempting Vacuum Extraction?

There are circumstances when the doctor may abandon using the medical vacuum. For example, if the suction cap dislodges from the infant’s head multiple times or the baby’s head shows any signs of trauma or injury. They may also stop the procedure if there is no progress in the delivery after 20 minutes of vacuum extraction.

Common Vacuum Extraction Injuries for Parents

Vacuum extraction poses a risk of injury for both parent and baby. While many of these risks are also associated with vaginal deliveries in general, they’re more likely to occur with vacuum extraction. Vacuum extraction injuries for parents include:

• Anemia
• Blood clots
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Injuries to the bladder or urethra that prevent urination or complete emptying of the bladder
• Pain during intercourse after recovery from the birth
• Pain in the perineum (the tissue between the vagina and anus) after delivery
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Short-term or long-term urinary or fecal incontinence (involuntary urination or defecation)
• Wounds and tears in the lower genital tract

Parents who undergo episiotomies (a cutting of the vagina to aid in the birthing process) during vacuum extraction are also at higher risk for infections and postpartum bleeding. While many parents expect a substantial amount of change in their bodies after giving birth, having to face additional medical care if a negligent caregiver hurts them should not be accepted as normal.

If you or a loved one suspect the doctor failed to perform a vacuum extraction properly, speak with a Philadelphia birth injury attorney about whether you have a valid claim. We will conduct a thorough review of the actions taken by your medical team and collect any relevant evidence that may show carelessness or intentional negligence. We are not afraid to take on big hospitals that may deny wrongdoing that caused suffering for you and your baby.

Common Vacuum Extraction Injuries for Babies

After the procedure, the medical staff will watch the baby closely for any signs of injury. Vacuum extraction can cause a few minor issues, such as jaundice. Infants may also have an area of pooled blood between the scalp and the skull (cephalohematoma) or swelling (edema) at the site where the extraction cup was applied.

However, there are several more serious injuries that can result from vacuum extraction. Many can lead to substantial damage to the child’s motor control and cognitive function. They include:

• Brachial plexus injuries
• Cerebral palsy
• Erb’s palsy
• External eye trauma
• Facial palsy (temporary or long-term weakness in the facial muscles)
• Misshapen skull or disfigurement
• Scalp or facial injuries
• Shoulder dystocia
• Skull fracture and / or bruising
• Stroke
• Subdural hematoma (bleeding within the skull or brain)

Injuries such as these can dramatically alter the child’s future and the parents’ hope for their baby. The family may be left with tremendously high medical bills to treat the consequences of a negligent medical provider. These costs can last for the entire lifetime of the child and result in added stress, worry, and fear for a family that anticipated only joy. Holding those at fault accountable is the job of the skilled personal injury lawyers at Lopez McHugh.

Long-Term Effects of Vacuum Extraction

While possible risks exist for the baby to sustain minor injuries during a vacuum delivery, it is also possible for them to receive severe traumatic birth injuries. Long-term effects of vacuum extraction injuries include:

• Blindness
• Brain damage
• Death
• Developmental delays
• Hearing loss
• Spinal injuries
• Paralysis
• Various palsy conditions
• Shortened lifespan

All of these injuries can be emotionally taxing and require significant medical attention, including physical therapy, surgeries, assistive devices, and other financial burdens. In many cases, an injured child’s care will require support beyond the parents’ lifetimes. By working with an experienced vacuum extraction injury attorney, you can work to ensure that every expense caused by a negligent medical provider’s actions is compensated.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Vacuum Extraction Injury Attorneys Today

Facing the outcome of a negligent medical procedure can leave you with pain, disability, and financial consequences. It is even more devastating when your child is harmed at the start of their life. Understanding what to do and how to move forward can be overwhelming without experienced and knowledgeable guidance from a compassionate legal professional.

If your child suffered an injury due to a vacuum extraction delivery, then you should immediately contact Lopez McHugh LLP. Our Philadelphia birth injury attorneys provide free and confidential consultations. There is no upfront cost for working with us, and we work on a contingency fee basis. You can secure the legal representation you need for your case and won’t owe us anything unless we help you recover compensation. Contact us to arrange your free case review today.