When minutes matter, inaction is malpractice.

When warning signs point to fetal or maternal distress, minutes matter. Hospitals should be prepared to move from decision to incision quickly for an emergency C-section.

Many organizations reference a 30-minute capability for urgent cesareans, though evidence shows the safest interval can be shorter depending on the situation and the clinical picture. The bottom line: if staff fail to act promptly, preventable brain and birth injuries can result.

If you believe a delay in ordering or performing a C-section harmed your baby, our team can investigate what happened, identify who is responsible, and pursue the resources your family needs for medical care and long-term support.

What Is a “Delayed” C-Section?

An emergency C-section (unplanned cesarean) is performed when the parent or baby is in distress. A delay can occur when clinicians:

• Miss or minimize signs of fetal intolerance of labor (nonreassuring heart rate patterns)
• Prolong labor despite deteriorating tracings
• Fail to mobilize anesthesia, surgical staff, or an operating room in time
• Delay the decision due to communication breakdowns or non-medical factors (e.g., staffing, administrative hurdles)

Professional guidance has long suggested hospitals maintain the capability to initiate an emergency cesarean within about 30 minutes of the decision, but research questions a one-size-fits-all “rule” emphasizing timely, case-specific action instead.

Injuries Linked to Delayed C-Sections

Failure to act quickly can cause oxygen deprivation and other complications, including:

• Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and later cerebral palsy
• Low Apgar scores, acidosis, and neonatal seizures
• Brachial plexus injuries (including Erb’s palsy)
• Shoulder dystocia-related trauma
• Maternal injuries and, in severe cases, wrongful death

Quality-improvement research shows that standardizing the decision-to-incision process can improve newborn outcomes, underscoring how preventable many delay-related injuries are.