Horrible delivery the other day

OP - I feel for you! I think if you see even just one delivery like that one, it sticks with you FOREVER. I did see one similar to yours, and my experience was back about 97, and it seems like it was yesterday.

Mom to be presented to the ER around lunchtime. I was the code nurse on L and D that day. The ER called the unit just before the operator called the code overhead and requested any help we could send them. Two of us went down and she wasn't coding at that time, but it was just a miserable situation. Mom wasn't due yet, baby was quite early- I can't remember exactly how early. The ER doc spoke with OB doc and off we went to OB. Doc met us down there and had just started to do his thing. I went out to pick up something for him, and in the 30 seconds or so I was gone, she abrupted. The doc was COVERED with blood - and not wearing eye protection.

Mom crashed, and we got her in to C/S. Baby's daddy was en route, and I hoped we would have mom or baby alive for him to see. Mom was still an active crack user, and no prenatal care. We got baby out and sent for the NICU transport to get him to a facility where the specialist to handle. Right after this, mom died, still in the section room. Dad arrived as the transport was loading, so he did at least get one look at little "Joseph". He collapsed, just racked with sobs. Doc spoke with him and told him about mother. Baby's grandmom arrived during this, and told the doc that mom had AIDS. Baby's daddy said he had no idea she had this.

We called not long after that to check on baby "Joseph" and he also died not long after transport.

A horrible situation from start to finish. I was glad at least that Dad got to see him, but still... And I still cringe every time I think about the doc with no eye protection.

Within the next year after that, the doc quit his practice and went into politics. "A little safer ", he said.

Anne

Was the baby already in the birth canal?

We were always taught that once the baby was "engaged" that you cannot turn around and pull the baby back out.

Was the position of the infant's station confirmed prior to the c-section decision?

If not...bad call on the OB's part.