Maternal Birth Injury Compensation
A maternal birth injury is one which affects the mother rather than the baby during vaginal childbirth. If the on-going symptoms of such an injury are due to negligent medical care, it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
Maternal birth injuries
During the birth of the baby, the vagina and the perineum (the area between the vagina and the anus) obviously comes under significant pressure. It is not uncommon for a woman to suffer a tear to her perineum at this time. For most women, this is, thankfully, a relatively small tear and any symptoms will resolve quickly.
For around 5% of women, however, the tear can continue beyond the perineum and cause damage to both the external and internal muscles which control the passing of wind and faeces from the bowel.
These injuries are called obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASI) or, more specifically, 3rd or 4th degree tears. A 4th degree tear is the most extensive of these kinds of injury, extending into the anal canal lining. Third degree tears can affect either the external anal sphincter muscle alone or both external and internal muscles.
Crucial diagnosis and repair
A prompt and accurate examination and assessment of third and fourth degree tears is absolutely essential.
If a severe birth tear is not diagnosed, it will not be repaired. If it is not repaired, the new mother is likely to experience significant problems with her bowel function.
This may be as severe as incontinence of both wind and faeces.
The repair of a severe maternal birth injury needs to be carried out by a surgeon in an operating theatre with the recommended techniques and materials depending on the degree of the injury.
Medical negligence
If a correct diagnosis is not made, the relevant medical professionals may be regarded as having provided negligent care.
If a poor-quality repair, or no repair at all, leads to a new mother suffering appalling long-term symptoms, it may be possible to make acclaim for compensation.
A compensation claim addresses the financial problems caused by the negligence such as loss of earnings where medical negligence left a woman with bowel incontinence and unable to work.
Speak to a solicitor
If you or a loved one are struggling with the appalling consequences of a failure of medical maternity care, contact Glynns to talk to a specialist in medical negligence compensation.
It may be appropriate to make a claim.
Speak to a specialist
If you are suffering bowel difficulties due to an undiagnosed and unrepaired birth tear. Contact Glynns Solicitors today to talk to a specialist medical negligence solicitor.
Contact us today to talk to a specialist solicitor about the possibility of making a claim for compensation.
Please call us on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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