A New Mexico mother might have a cesarean delivery for a variety of reasons, including having had a prior C-section, risks to the baby, pregnancy continuing beyond due date, or simple convenience. In some cases, a mother may have a say in the matter, but in other cases, a provider might require a C-section delivery because of risk factors. While such reasons may be legitimate, there is a concern that the rate of C-sections in the United States is too high.
There are varying views on the underlying reasons for such a high C-section rate. Some believe that the practice is attractive because of the higher financial compensation in the event of surgical delivery. The average payout by private insurances for C-section deliveries is approximately 50 percent greater than for vaginal births. At the same time, the time needed for a vaginal delivery is several times that required for a surgical birth. Both providers and hospitals stand to benefit with the surgical approach based on the opportunity for a greater volume of births.
The potential for a birth injury during delivery is another important consideration of many providers. Failure to perform a C-section in a timely manner could create a serious health risk for a baby or for a mother. In cases involving issues such as pre-eclampsia, breech birth, oxygen deprivation,or poor vital signs, failing to act quickly could lead to permanent injuries to one or both patients. However, there may be cases in which a vaginal birth is possible but in which provider decisions prevent a mother from trying to pursue this route.
A new mother might deal with serious recovery challenges after a surgical delivery. Serious infection or other major problems might be attributed to the circumstances surrounding the delivery and the stay in the hospital. If evidence of such issues can be collected, there might be a basis for filing a medical malpractice claim.
