One of the things every expectant mother hopes for is that her pregnancy will be easy and followed by a safe delivery of a healthy baby. Unfortunately, this does not always happen, and problems can arise during the birth process. One common complication that can impact the delivery process is unexpected uterine tears caused by negligent medical professionals. If you have been impacted by a uterine rupture, an experienced medical malpractice attorney can help you pursue the compensation that you deserve.
What is a Uterine Rupture?
While rare, uterine ruptures are life-threatening complications caused by breaches in the myometrial wall that occur when contents in the uterus spill into the mother’s broad ligament or peritoneal cavity. This complication affects approximately 1% of all pregnant women. In most cases when a uterine rupture has occurred, emergency surgical intervention must occur immediately. If the surgical intervention takes too long, the child can die from asphyxiation caused by bleeding in the mother’s womb.
The Causes of Uterine Ruptures
The build-up of pressure during the labor process is the primary cause of uterine tears when a baby is moving through the birth canal during the delivery process. While not exactly causes, many risk factors place a mother at an increased risk of a uterine tear, which include:
- Earlier c-section or uterine surgery
- Earlier uterine injuries
- Expectant mothers who experienced earlier uterine trauma
- Maternal obesity
- Mothers whose pelvis is not large enough to accommodate delivery
- Pregnancies involving multiple children
- Prolonged labor and delivery due to a larger than average child
- Uncontrolled use of Pitocin or OxyContin
- Women who have given birth to five or more children
- Women with hysterectomy scars from c-sections
- Women with metroplasty and myomectomy scars
- Women with scars caused by earlier repairs of uterine tears
Preventing Uterine Ruptures
The only known way to prevent uterine ruptures is to receive a cesarean delivery to avoid vaginal birth. In deciding how to proceed, however, your physician should perform a comprehensive medical and family history that documents every previous birth through cesarean delivery or any other surgery. If your medical professional did not consider these factors, and you incurred an injury as a result, you should speak with an experienced medical malpractice attorney.
Diagnosis of Uterine Tears
Medical professionals frequently face challenges in diagnosing uterine tears because many of the symptoms associated with these conditions are not specific. A medical professional should perform both tests and monitoring to determine the presence of fetal distress. An official diagnosis can later be verified during surgery when the child is removed from the mother during an emergency cesarean section.
Speak with an Experienced Medical Malpractice Attorney
As an experienced medical malpractice attorney, I understand the numerous risks that exist for mothers and children during both the labor and delivery process. If you or your child has been harmed due to a uterine rupture caused by medical malpractice, I can meet with you today! During a free case evaluation, we will review your options. While your situation can feel overwhelming, I will be there for you, and I’ll Make Them Pay!®.
