Photo: Allen J. Schaben/LA Times Via Getty Images Photo: Dewald Kirsten/Getty Images/Gallo Images

A new Oceanside, Calif.-area mother named Delfina Mota and her boyfriend, Paul Iheanachor, say doctors at the Tri-City Medical Center in Southern California performed an emergency C-section on her last November — without anesthesia, a claim the hospital denies.

Mota and Iheanachor are currently in the process of suing the hospital for what they call a "horrifying" ordeal. The new mom, who was 41 weeks pregnant at the time, says she was rushed to Tri-City for the procedure, but the anesthesiologist, Dr. David Seif, did not arrive to administer medication after several pages.

"I was crying because I was scared, I didn't know what was going on," Mota told People. "I was laying there and [obstetrician Dr. Sandra Lopez] was like, 'We have to just do it.' That's when I felt them cut me open. Nurses were holding me down ... I could feel her cutting me and, with her hands, opening me. That's when I passed out."

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Iheanachor was outside the delivery room and says he heard "the most horrific screams you could ever imagine" followed by silence.

The couple told People that Seif finally entered the delivery room after the baby, named Cali, was born, telling Mota, "I'm gonna make you feel better now." They also note that the hospital staff attempted to assuage the situation by offering the new mom a $25 gift card to the hospital gift shop.

The two are suing the hospital for medical malpractice, loss of consortium, negligent infliction of emotional distress and assault and battery, and are seeking $5.75 million in damages. The baby is reportedly happy and doing well.

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The hospital contests the claim by Mota and Iheanachor, telling the San Diego Union-Tribune that "The patient was administered anesthesia prior to the surgery." The hospital adds that although they normally don't comment to the press on pending litigation, they decided to release a statement due to the patient's "outrageous allegation."

Mota says months later she is still recovering, physically and mentally, from the ordeal, saying she's suffering post-traumatic stress side effects and that she's afraid to have another baby.

Alyssa Pereira is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at apereira@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @alyspereira.

