Many women schedule their C-sections, especially if they have had one before. However, many more attempt a natural birth and then decide to switch to a C-section at the hospital.
This can happen for a lot of different reasons, but one of the main ones is just that the doctor feels that the labor has taken too long and is going too slowly. The doctor may determine that the mother should stop trying to have the baby naturally as a safety measure.
But how long should the doctor wait? What if they order the C-section too early or wait too long? Either one could cause unneeded complications. What timeframe are you looking at?
There is a wide time range
The unfortunate reality is that there is no set time range, like saying a C-section is necessary after 24 hours. Medical professionals note that some women may need them after a few hours. Others may be in labor for a few days. It’s different with each case, each mother and each child.
This is why it’s so important for doctors to know exactly what they’re doing and to rely on their expertise. The mother will not know when the C-section is needed, and the doctor doesn’t have a schedule to follow. They need to be able to assess the situation and make the right call in that unique case.
Doctors do make mistakes, though. Mothers and children can be injured when they do. If that happens, it’s important for the parents to know what legal options they may have to sue a negligent doctor.