Birth injuries were once a common problem that affected countless babies. As medical techniques and technology improved, they gradually became less common. Still, they’re not unheard of even today. Though people often focus on the effects of birth injuries on newborns, mothers can also be affected. Labor and delivery injuries can have serious consequences for new mothers. While some of them are unavoidable, many are the result of medical errors or negligence.
If you or a loved one was injured during labor and delivery, it’s important to receive prompt medical care to minimize the impact of those injuries. At the same time, you have the right to seek justice and compensation for the harm medical professionals caused. Consider consulting with an attorney to find out if you have a case and what type of compensation you may be entitled to. In the meantime, read on to learn more about different types of labor injuries and their impacts on new mothers.
Delving Into Common Labor and Delivery Injuries
Some types of injuries are to be expected during labor and delivery, and they have few, if any, lasting effects. Vaginal tearing is a prime example. It can affect the skin of the perineum as well as the underlying muscles. This is exceedingly common for first-time mothers, and with proper care, it typically heals with no long-term consequences. Beyond relatively superficial issues like that, though, numerous other injuries can arise.
Pelvic Floor Injuries
Pelvic floor injuries often occur during labor and delivery. They can be caused by prolonged labor, improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors during delivery, and failure to perform a timely C-section among other issues. Their effects can include urinary incontinence, future pregnancy and delivery complications, pelvic organ prolapse, and bowel leakage to name a few. Those effects may last for a short time after delivery, or they may cause ongoing issues.
Hemorrhaging
Hemorrhaging is another common type of labor injury. It can come from numerous causes with a couple of the most prevalent being preeclampsia and placental abruption. Prolonged labor increases the risks of hemorrhaging. Administering oxytocin to induce labor can lead to hemorrhaging as well, particularly in cases where too much is administered or it’s used for too long during labor. Oxytocin can cause the uterus to contract too forcefully or prevent it from relaxing properly after birth. In extreme cases, the mother may suffer brain damage, organ damage, or potentially fatal shock.
Emotional Trauma
Additionally, labor and delivery issues can cause emotional trauma. That places new mothers at a higher risk of developing anxiety and postpartum depression. It may also detract from a mother’s ability to bond with her baby and affect her relationship with her spouse and other loved ones. Particularly painful or frightening labor and delivery complications can lead to PTSD as well. Any of those issues can cause lasting impacts for new mothers and affect entire families.
Finding Closure and Seeking Justice for Labor and Delivery Injuries
These are only a few of the injuries that can occur during labor and delivery, and many of them are preventable. Medical professionals are expected to provide the highest possible quality of care throughout pregnancy, during labor and delivery, and after the fact. They should monitor mothers and their babies for risk factors and signs of problems and take every reasonable precaution to avoid undue harm. When they fail to live up to those expectations, they can be held accountable for their negligence, and birth injury attorneys can help make sure justice is served.
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