Injury or Death of a Mother During Childbirth

When we think of “birth injuries,” we usually think of the harm to a baby that can happen during labor and delivery. But childbirth poses risks for the mother as well.

Life-threatening complications for mothers can arise during the course of a pregnancy and in the delivery room. If such issues aren’t discovered and addressed properly and immediately, the consequences could be tragic, including a newborn child growing up without his or her mom.

The injury or a death of a mother during childbirth is always heartbreaking, but it is even more so if doctors and other healthcare professionals caused or could have prevented such a result had they done their jobs properly. The Washington DC birth injury attorneys at The Rich Firm, PC use our decades of birth injury experience and a passion for justice to fight for compensation on behalf of families dealing with the aftermath of a mother’s injury or death during childbirth.

Common Injuries to Mothers During Childbirth

Advances in medicine and technology have made childbirth much safer than it was centuries, even decades ago. But that doesn’t mean that things can’t still go wrong, and it doesn’t mean that doctors, nurses, and delivery room staff won’t make dangerous or fatal errors in judgment and action.

There are many injuries a mother can suffer during labor and delivery, but some of the most common complications are:

• Uterine rupture. Sometimes, when drugs such as Pitocin are used to induce labor, violent contractions caused by an inappropriate dose can cause the mother’s uterus to rupture, which can be life-threatening for both the mother and the child.
• Vaginal tears. When a baby’s head is too large or is in a breech position, or if the mother has trouble controlling her pushes, a vaginal delivery may result in vaginal tears in the area between the anus and the vagina. Depending on the severity of the tear, complications can include incontinence and pain during sex, and may require surgery to repair.
• Episiotomy. An episiotomy is a surgical incision into the perineum made during delivery in order to prevent excessive vaginal tearing or if the baby needs to be delivered quickly. However, if the procedure is performed or repaired improperly, infections and dangerously excessive bleeding can result.
• Caesarean sections. The conditions that lead to the consideration of an emergency C-section can appear suddenly and unexpectedly, requiring quick decisions and actions by delivery room personnel. However, a C-section can result in severe injuries to nearby organs, including the bladder and bowel. Additionally, there is an increased risk of developing a potentially life-threatening blood clot after a C-section.
• Preeclampsia. Failure to diagnose and treat preeclampsia, or pregnancy-induced hypertension, can lead to liver, kidney, or brain damage to the mother. A lack of treatment can also leave the mother vulnerable to eclampsia, which can lead to seizures, coma, and death.
• Improper use of forceps. While forceps are sometimes required to aid with a difficult delivery, the misuse of forceps can injure the mother’s urethra and bladder, and can cause genital tract tears, incontinence, and injuries to the perineum.

Did Medical Malpractice Cause a Mother’s Injury or Death?

Not all complications during childbirth are preventable or the result of malpractice by the doctors and delivery room staff. However, errors and mistakes do occur that lead to preventable injuries or fatalities. Sometimes, doctors fail to diagnose problems that they should have known about. Those failures can in turn lead to catastrophic delays in taking the immediate steps necessary to prevent injury or death to the mother. Incorrect or uninformed decisions as well as mistakes in execution of medical procedures also lead to tragic consequences.

The Washington DC Birth Injury Attorneys at The Rich Firm, PC Can Help

When doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals fail to follow the appropriate standard of care during childbirth, the tragic consequences to the mother, her child, and their family can last a lifetime. The Rich Firm, PC, birth injury attorneys serving Washington DC, is committed to getting justice and compensation for families living in the aftermath of injuries or the death of a mother caused by medical malpractice. We have a long track record of success obtaining damages for victims, and several of our attorneys are also medical doctors who can evaluate whether your doctor was negligent. This can get you answers quickly and save you the months and expenses normally associated with expert review of your case.

Getting Legal Help with Your Injury or Death of a Mother During Childbirth

For experienced and aggressive legal representation in the Maryland, Virginia, or Washington DC areas, please give our Washington DC birth injury lawyers a call at 888-RICH-LAW (742-4529) to set up your free consultation or contact us online. We look forward to assisting you.