Childbirth is a stressful event at any time, but if a mother is injured while giving birth it can have a devastating effect on her mental and physical well-being.

Some childbirth injuries are unavoidable and are just a natural part of having a baby. Others however, are caused or made worse when midwives and doctors make mistakes during a mother’s labour or delivery. This can lead to serious physical or mental injuries which can affect your quality of life, your career, your relationship, or your bond with your baby.

Everyone on your childbirth team owes you a duty of care; if they breach this duty and you suffer a childbirth injury as a result, they may be found negligent and if so you may be able to claim compensation.

Jane Couch, a personal injury law solicitor at WBW Solicitors in Newton Abbot outlines common antenatal injuries and potential aspects of negligence.

Vaginal tears

Around 90 per cent of women suffer tears to the perineum (the skin between the vagina and anus) when it stretches as the baby is born, often because the baby is large, the second stage of labour is particularly long, forceps or a ventouse are used, or labour is induced.

Most such tears are fairly minor and heal naturally shortly after childbirth. More serious perineal tears require repair, such as stitches, and take longer to heal. Care may be negligent if tears were not spotted and repaired at the time of delivery or if they were repaired badly.

Such negligence could lead to long-term consequences, such as incontinence, pain while urinating or having sex, scarring or rectovaginal fistula (a hole in the wall between your vagina and your anus, which allows faeces to enter the vagina). It may also mean you need surgery to correct the damage, causing further pain and suffering.

Botched episiotomy

An episiotomy is a procedure designed to reduce the risk of a serious tearing during childbirth. It is a surgical incision made by a doctor or midwife during childbirth, either from the vagina directly towards the anus or from the vagina, angled off to one side of the perineum.

Care may be negligent if the healthcare professional cut in the wrong place, cut too deeply, or failed to stitch the affected area properly. They also have a duty to explain the risks and benefits of an episiotomy to you before performing one.

Post-partum haemorrhage

It is perfectly normal for women to suffer some vaginal bleeding for between two and six weeks after a vaginal birth, which will usually be heaviest straight after birth and become lighter over time.

Some women, however, experience abnormally heavy bleeding, called a post-partum haemorrhage, which can be life-threatening. Such post-partum haemorrhaging could be primary (occurring within 24 hours of the baby’s birth) or secondary (happening after 24 hours, and up to six weeks after the baby’s birth).

Healthcare workers are trained to recognise situations where a mother is at high risk of suffering a post-partum haemorrhage. Care may be negligent if they failed to take the necessary steps to reduce the chance of a haemorrhage or if they failed to take swift steps to treat a haemorrhage if it does occur.

Prolapsed uterus

Childbirth, particularly those involving a long or difficult labour, can cause pelvic organ prolapse. A prolapsed uterus happens when the uterus slips out of its usual position and down into the vaginal canal.

Such an injury is not usually life-threatening, but it can affect a mother’s quality of life. Symptoms can include urinary incontinence, pain during sex, a feeling of heaviness in the vagina and/or perineal area. Surgery may sometimes be required to repair of the pelvic floor muscles, and in particularly serious cases, a hysterectomy may be needed. Again, Care may be negligent if the childbirth team failed to spot or properly treat the prolapse.

If you suffered a childbirth injury which you think was due to the negligence of your childbirth team and you would like to make a claim for compensation, contact Jane Couch at WBW Solicitors in Newton Abbot on 01626 202413 or email [email protected]

WBW has offices in TorquayPaigntonNewton AbbotExeterBovey Tracey,  Exmouth,  Honiton,  Sidmouth,  Launceston,  AxminsterChard and Seaton.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Please note that the law may have changed since this article was published.