The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists came out with new guidelines, recommending that hospitals use special inflating boots on women’s legs during c-sections to prevent the risk of a blood clot.
According to Parenting.com, almost one-third of the babies born in the U.S. are delivered by cesarean section.
The clots, known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), can travel through the bloodstream and lodge in the lungs, becoming a dangerous pulmonary embolism. According to the article, women are especially susceptible to clots during the few weeks before and after birth because the blood changes to protect against excessive bleeding during childbirth.
Although DVT is rare (about 2 in every 1000 pregnant women), the boots can cut the risk of DVT dramatically.
The recommendation of the boot for those undergoing a c-section seems like a precaution that should become a regular part of this type of surgery. We know it’s all too easy for medical negligence to lead to things such as birth injuries. If your child’s birth injury was caused by medical negligence, we may be able to help. Contact the birth injury attorneys at O’Connor Law for a free review of your case.