Maternity Failings in OASI Care and How to Make a Claim

Speak to a specialist solicitor, free of charge, if you are struggling with bowel problems after the birth of your baby.

Failings in maternal perineal care

After a woman has given birth to her baby through the vagina, it is essential that maternity professionals check the condition of her perineum and anal sphincter. This is the region between the vagina and the anus as well as the muscles around the anus.

The reason for this is two-fold:

This region is susceptible to significant damage during vaginal childbirth due to the pressure of the baby’s delivery, especially when the new mother has required an instrumental (forceps) delivery or is a first-time mother
The long-term impact of these injuries can be absolutely life-changing if they are not diagnosed and repaired shortly after the baby’s birth

Occasionally, the necessary checks are not carried out and a new mother returns home with increasingly distressing and debilitating bowel problems of wind and faecal incontinence which can undermine her entire quality of life.

If the cause of this is found to be negligent maternity care, it may be possible to claim compensation for the consequences.

Negligent maternity care of the perineum

Guidelines exist about post-natal maternal perineal care but, if they are not followed, the new mother may suffer the consequences.

Specific examples of negligent maternity care which may leave a woman with an unresolved injury could include the following:

A failure to carry out a perineal and digital rectal examination of the new mother after the birth of her baby
A failure to notice that damage has occurred to the anal muscles
A misdiagnosis of damage to the anal muscles, such as identifying a 3c tear as a 3a tear
Failing to carry out a comprehensive and effective repair

How to make a claim

A successful claim can address financial losses such as any loss of earnings caused by the new mother’s symptoms as well as costs of treatment or equipment required due to the impact of the negligence.

If you are thinking that you might make a claim, you need to speak to a specialist medical negligence solicitor who will investigate the quality of your maternity care and, if appropriate, support the development and negotiate the settlement of your claim.