Every year throughout the UK thousands of women give birth to healthy children without any complications but complications can occur as there is a certain level of risk involved. These complications can result in injury to both the mother and the baby.

Some examples of the most common concerns that can arise to both the mother and baby during pregnancy and birth are:

• Delays in diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy
• Maternal death/ brain injury due to hypertensive disease/ haemorrhage
• Uterine rupture due to inappropriate use of oxytocinon/ trial of scar
• Inadequate repair of tears of the perineum/ anal sphincter at the time of delivery resulting in fistulas and faecal incontinence

Pregnancy and birth is one aspect of health that should be continually monitored by a sufficient amount of staff. There is a wide range of medical professionals who should be present during birth, including midwives, nurses and consultants as well as obstetrics, which is a branch of medical professionals that oversee the care of women during their pregnancy and throughout the birth. A person who works in obstetrics has to supervise and monitor to catch any potentially damaging conditions that could affect the mother or baby throughout the pregnancy and birth.

The birth can be difficult for both mother and baby and if too much pressure is placed on the babies neck and head it can cause a condition know as Erb’s Palsy. Another condition that can regularly affect babies during birth is Cerebral Palsy. It is said that about 10% of babies are born with this condition is as a result of medical negligence. Cerebral Palsy is usually sustained as a result of oxygen deprivation during a traumatic birth, an aspect of childbirth that should be controlled and stopped from happening.

As well as injuries to the baby, injuries can also occur to mothers. The most common problems faced by mothers as a result of a lack of care include incorrect stitching after episiotomy, which is a procedure to give a baby extra room during childbirth. Another common injury is a vaginal tear, which can often go missed or be misjudged, which can lead to pain, suffering and continual problems if it is not deal with properly.

All of the above are examples of problems that can occur during pregnancy and childbirth if the level of care isn’t to the standards that it should be. Aspects such as a lack of staff or under trained staff are often to blame when in reality this shouldn’t happen and it is not an acceptable excuse.

If you or your baby has sustained injury during childbirth that was a direct result of a lack of care/duty then contact Accident Consult today and we will do everything possible to ensure that your claim is thoroughly investigated and carried through.