Giving birth is often a joyous event for a mother. However, there are many risks that pregnancy and childbirth pose to a woman. If not handled properly, things can go very wrong.
Birth related injuries to mothers can be absolutely devastating, and can have long-term effects. They can affect personal relationships, careers and mental health.
Some childbirth injuries are unavoidable and they can be a natural part of having a baby.
Sadly, some injuries are caused, or made worse, when midwives and doctors make mistakes during a mother’s pregnancy, labour or delivery. Learn what you can do if you have suffered a birth injury as a mother.
If you suffered a birth injury, are worried about the care you received, and think it might have caused a problem you may be eligible for birth injury compensation. Our maternal birth injury claims lawyers understand what you’re going through, and we can help you get answers about your care.
Perineal tears and episiotomy — around 3 in 4 women who give birth vaginally experience ‘perineal trauma’ (a tear or surgical cut to the area between the vagina and anus).
Nerve damage — occasionally, nerves in the perineal area can get damaged during childbirth, which can lead to a painful condition called pudendal neuralgia.
Hemorrhoid’s — these are swollen veins around the anus that you might feel as lumps. While they can be painful or itchy, they are usually not serious.
Muscle damage — the ‘pelvic floor’ is a group of muscles inside the pelvis that helps hold the uterus, bladder and bowel in place.
In up to half of all women who give birth vaginally, there are permanent changes to the pelvic floor due to over-stretching or tearing (avulsion).
Pelvic organ prolapse — if the pelvic muscles are damaged or weakened, the organs inside the pelvis can drop down towards the vagina, causing bladder and bowel problems.
While these birth injuries are physical, many mothers can experience emotional or psychological distress — before, during or after the birth. This is known as birth trauma. There are ways to decrease your risk of birth trauma, and both treatment and support are available.
For every 100,000 live births in North America, more than 500 women die each year as a result of complications from their pregnancy or delivery, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In some labor and delivery medical malpractice cases, tragic birth injuries could have been easily prevented had the attending medical professionals given quality care during the birthing process.
It’s seemingly insignificant and careless mistakes during childbirth that can result in lifelong complications, not only for the child but also the mother. These mistakes may be considered birth injury medical negligence.
“Hi, my name is Jordan Merson and i’m the founder of Merson Law.”
“Birth Injury and medical malpractice questions and topics like the one stated above are what the Lawyers and Attorney’s of Merson Law are specialists at.”
“It was my dream to one day be a fierce advocate for those that have no voice and seemingly no recourse for the wrongs they have suffered at the hands of others.”
“To make that dream a reality, i’ve worked hard to build a unique and successful medical malpractice personal injury law firm in New York, Merson Law.”
“At Merson Law, our birth injury team of experts are focused on bringing justice and compensation for those people whose lives will never be the same because of medical negligence.”
Some birth injuries are minor and may heal on their own — for example, a minor perineal tear or graze. Other injuries need treatment at the time, such as a deeper tear that needs stitches. You may also need some pain relief.
If you had a more serious birth injury, such as a significant tear or damage to the muscles of the pelvic floor, treatment may include physiotherapy and exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. Some women may need to use pessaries in their vagina or surgery to repair a prolapse.
Sometimes, signs of pelvic floor damage or prolapse are not detected and treated until much later.
If you have had a birth injury, you may be at more risk of it happening again with your next baby. Your doctor will talk to you about whether you should consider a planned caesarean section next time.
If you experience any ongoing symptoms, such as pelvic pain or bladder and bowel problems, you should see your doctor.
Read up on recent birth injury treatment updates, community support events, and encouraging stories to inspire your family.
