0800 316 8892
How can we help? Let us call you.
Complications during childbirth are sadly not uncommon. They are not always a result of negligence but in some cases, the complications are avoidable and should not occur. Complications during birth can result in damage to either the mother or the baby and, in some cases, to both. Many different complications can arise, but some of the most common ones are described below:
Unfortunately, many women suffer injury during childbirth and one of the most common injuries is a tear to the perineum (the area between the vagina and anus). There are different levels of severity of tear ranging from 1st – 4th degree. In most cases, these tears are unavoidable and are recognised correctly at the time of delivery. Correct recognition and treatment of even serious tears can, for the most part, limit the consequences to short term problems.
However, sometimes very severe tears can occur due to failures in care (such as the failure to intervene appropriately). Such tears can have much longer lasting consequences. In other cases, serious tears may go unrecognised and untreated, resulting in devastating and traumatic consequences including pain, loss of sensation and incontinence.
We have pursued many successful claims for mothers who have experienced these life-altering complications of childbirth, and secured compensation to cover the costs of private remedial surgery and treatments which can often be very expensive.
After a baby is delivered, the treating Obstetrician or midwife must ensure that the placenta is also delivered. If the placenta (or even a proportion of it) is retained within the womb, it can cause the mother to develop an infection. Such infections can often lead to more serious complications, in the most extreme cases necessitating hysterectomy and causing infertility. We have acted for women who have suffered such complications and have recovered compensation from hospitals who have failed to carry out this basic post-delivery check.
If a labour fails to progress and the baby becomes stuck, the treating midwives and Obstetricians may have to carry out an "assisted delivery" using Ventouse or forceps. Inappropriate application or excessive force when using these devices can sometimes cause injury to mother (including perineal injury) and/or baby. We have represented many women and children who have suffered these unpleasant complications and sustained injury and scarring as a result.