We often speak about birth injuries that affect babies. Babies are so tiny and fragile when they are born that so many things can go wrong during the birthing process. But mothers can be injured during birth too. If you suffered an injury while giving birth, this might affect your ability to return to work, participate in your typical daily activities, or even care for your child.
Birth injuries that affect mothers include vaginal tearing, anal fissures, incorrect suturing, infections, the failure to detect or treat pre-eclampsia or the failure to detect or treat excessive blood loss during or after delivery.
Vaginal tearing and anal fissures often cannot be prevented. But there are factors that may allow your doctor to predict that you are at higher risk of tearing during delivery. For example, if you have torn during a previous delivery or your baby has a high birth weight, your doctor may recommend delivery by caesarean section. Often these tears can be healed with surgery and time. Unfortunately, some tears result in permanent injuries, causing pain and incontinence.
Incorrect suturing by medical staff, either after a caesarean or to repair tearing, can lead to infection or prevent proper healing. Infections can also be passed between patients by hospital staff who fail to maintain the necessary clean and sterile environments.
Pre-eclampsia is a medical condition that affects some pregnant women. It is characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine. If not managed properly, it can result in seizures, serious injury and death.
Excessive bleeding after delivery is known as postpartum hemorrhaging. Some bleeding after delivery is normal so it is important that doctors and nurses monitor mothers carefully after delivery to ensure that the amount of bleeding is not excessive.
The failure of the medical staff to detect or properly treat postpartum hemorrhaging can result in the mother’s death.
While not all birth injuries can be prevented, some of them are preventable or are directly caused by the negligence of a medical professional.
If you were injured during the birth of your child due to the negligent actions of doctors, nurses or hospital staff, you should consult an experienced personal injury lawyer right away to find out if you have a legal claim for the damages you suffered. The injuries you sustained may be long lasting and may seriously impair your ability to care for your children. Call a lawyer today to preserve your rights.
