Personal Injury Claims Among Friends & Family: A Delicate Situation
Posted in: Ohio Personal Injury
KNR Legal Blog
Injuries to mothers during childbirth can have devastating and long-term effects. Serious injuries may sometimes even lead to death. Despite advances in modern medicine, many women are injured each year during childbirth due to medical negligence. Our attorneys at Kisling, Nestico & Redick have experience that can benefit you if you need to file a claim for compensation against a medical provider.
Some of the most childbirth injuries to mothers include the following:
Vaginal Tears can be categorized according to their degree of severity. As many as 90 percent of women suffer tears in the perineum (skin that stretches between the anus in the vagina) during birth. Most of these tears will heal with time and rest. More extensive tearing may require surgery and can pose a risk to the mother’s health if accompanied by significant muscle tearing and bleeding.
To avoid the risks that come with natural tearing during childbirth, some women opt to have an episiotomy. This is a surgical incision that is done to reduce the risks that come with natural childbirth. The procedure itself is not without risks. If this procedure was administered without your consent, or if you have suffered harm as a result of a procedure that was negligently done, you may have a case for medical malpractice.
Risk factors for serious tears include the following:
It is important to remember that some tearing is normal, but more serious tearing can damage the muscles around the anal sphincter and can stretch to the external vaginal area. If you are concerned about unpleasant symptoms such as pain and discomfort, seek medical attention. It never hurts to get a second opinion.
Doctors who assist mothers with childbirth are trained to monitor and treat tearing. If doctors fail to adequately monitor or treat vaginal tearing, long-term pain and complications may result. Symptoms that may arise from an unresolved tear include:
Even if you have had a procedure to repair a vaginal tear, in some cases, the procedure is not adequate to fix the problem. There are also cases of faulty repair surgeries. Untreated, vaginal tearing can adversely affect your quality of life. The good news is that many cases are treatable.
Some blood loss during and after birth is normal and natural for mothers to experience. However, excessive bleeding may be a sign that something is wrong. A post-partum hemorrhage may occur when there is abnormally heavy bleeding. Very heavy bleeding can result in weakness, anemia, and even death.
Primary or immediate hemorrhaging occurs within the first 24 hours after childbirth. Delayed or secondary hemorrhaging occurs after the first 24 hours. About one in 20 women experience primary hemorrhaging immediately after childbirth. Secondary hemorrhaging is less common. Medical professionals are trained to recognize the signs of excessive bleeding and should take necessary steps to control it.
A prolapsed uterus occurs when the uterus moves from its normal position into the vaginal area. A prolapsed uterus is usually not life-threatening but may result in pain, incontinence and a feeling of pressure around the vaginal area. Many cases are treatable with pelvic floor exercises. More serious cases may require surgical intervention and potentially a hysterectomy.
A ruptured uterus occurs when there is a tear in the wall of the uterus, or womb. This is considered a serious complication of childbirth and is most common in women who have previously undergone a C-section. A ruptured uterus requires immediate treatment because if left untreated, it can harm both the mother and her baby.
A ruptured uterus may also come with heavy bleeding, severe pain, and infection. It usually requires immediate surgery to repair the tearing, and if repair is not possible, a hysterectomy may be necessary. During recovery, a course of antibiotics is usually administered to reduce the risk of serious infection.
Do you have concerns about an injury you may have experienced during childbirth? Our attorneys at Kisling, Nestico & Redick are here to help. Medical malpractice cases can be complex and require extensive dedication and research. Speaking to a lawyer with experience handling childbirth injury cases greatly increases the odds that your claim for compensation will be successful. Contact us online to schedule a consultation today.