Compensation for Bowel Symptoms due to Negligent Midwife Care
If you have given birth through the vagina, it was probably the responsibility of your midwife to assess the condition of your perineum following the birth. If this was not carried out scrupulously, you may suffer long-term bowel problems as a result.
Vaginal birth trauma
Giving birth through the vagina inevitably puts pressure on the surrounding skin and muscle. It is possible for this pressure to cause the new mother to suffer a tear and it is essential that any such injury is correctly diagnosed so that an appropriate repair can be carried out.
This is a precise procedure which requires both knowledge and attention to detail. If the midwife attending the birth has insufficient awareness of severe birth tears, or if she fails to be absolutely meticulous in her assessment, severe trauma may be misdiagnosed and debilitating damage may go unrepaired.
In order to ensure that any and all damage to the woman's perineum and anus are identified, it is important that a digital, rectal examination is carried out. Without this, the most severe trauma may be missed. A 3c tear may be misdiagnosed as a 2nd degree tear for example, meaning that the woman affected will not receive the surgical attention and skill that she needs.
Categorising birth trauma
Perineal trauma should be identified according to the following categories:
- Trauma to the skin of the perineum: 1st degree tear
- Trauma to the skin and muscle of the perineum: 2nd degree tear
- Additional trauma to the anal sphincter: 3rd degree tear
- Additional trauma to the internal anal canal: 4th degree tear
If 3rd or 4th degree tears are not identified and repaired at the time of the baby's birth, the new mother may suffer incontinence of both wind and faeces permanently.
This can be hugely debilitating, affecting almost every aspect of life, as well as causing significant emotional distress and financial difficulties.
Speak to a solicitor
If you or a loved one are struggling with the appalling, long-term impact of a failure to diagnose a severe perineal birth injury, it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
Contact us at Glynns Solicitors. We have supported numerous women in making highly-successful compensation claims for poor maternity care and understand how distressing the effects of these injuries can be.
Please call us on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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