What are the most common types of birth injuries to the mother?

By its nature, childbirth places enormous stress on the mother, which means they could be at risk of a number of different types of injury during the process:

• Tears to the vagina or the perineum (the soft tissue separating the vagina and anus)
• Anal fissures due to straining during delivery
• Serious infections after the birth
• Internal bleeding, also known as haemorrhaging
• Placental abruption, when the placenta becomes detached from the uterus wall before the baby is delivered. This can starve the baby of oxygen and cause heavy bleeding to the mother
• Preeclampsia, a condition marked by high blood pressure and protein in the urine. This can lead to pain and swelling, and if left untreated can result in fits, strokes, organ failure or blood clotting disorders for the mother

These conditions vary in severity, but all of them can cause significant pain and discomfort, while the most serious can put the lives of the mother and the baby at risk.

How can medical negligence contribute to maternal birth injuries?

There are a number of ways in which birth injuries can occur as a direct result of malpractice or negligence on the part of the medical staff. These include:

• A failure to detect early signs of conditions such as preeclampsia or placental abruption, meaning the mother does not receive the necessary care
• Delays to a caesarean section delivery, which results in avoidable trauma or injury to the mother
• Incorrectly performed episiotomies, a procedure involving cuts to the vaginal wall and perineum, which can lead to pain and incontinence if mishandled
• Incorrect use of anaesthetics, resulting in insufficient pain relief, brain injuries or an allergic reaction
• Improper use of forceps or other procedures, causing injury to the mother and/or baby

If you or a loved one have suffered a maternal birth injury as a result of medical negligence, you should contact a solicitor to enquire about making a claim.