Breaking the Silence on Maternal Birth Injuries

When we hear about Charleston birth injuries, it's almost always a story related to an infant who was harmed during childbirth. While these situations are indeed tragic, mothers are often hurt during childbirth as well. Sadly, given the sensitive nature of the topic, they frequently keep quiet and attempt to live with the ongoing symptoms of trauma. Routinely, even those who do bring a symptom to their doctor's attention are quickly dismissed or told it's normal and to adapt. In some cases, this is true, but all too often, the injury could have been prevented, or the impact lessened, had the doctor handled the situation differently. Perineal Tears and Episiotomies It's incredibly difficult to ascertain how many women tear and how many receive episiotomies during the birthing process. Some sources indicate that 85-percent of women tear during childbirth. From the 1930s through the 1990s, episiotomies were recommendedto reduce the likelihood of perineal trauma. At its peak, doctors may have been performing them 60-percent of the time or more. It wasn't until 2005 that researchers discovered that these unnecessary episiotomies caused incontinence, long-term pain, and other problems in mothers. Preventing Damage Although guidelines have changed over the years, there is very little a doctor can do to prevent perineal trauma. Some studies suggest that perineal massage during pregnancy and childbirth may help, but only under specific circumstances. Statistics also indicate that the use of forceps and vacuums during delivery increases the risk of trauma. With that said, even when a tear does occur, it is not necessarily a sign that medical negligence has taken place. However, the severity of the damage is often misdiagnosed and when that happens, the woman can face long-term health consequences. Misdiagnosis Perineal tears are classified as first, second, third, and fourth degree tears. The first two are smaller, involve less tissue, and can usually be repaired with a few sutures immediately. As the severity of thisbirth injury increases, muscles of the rectum can also be torn, which requires additional treatment, possibly by a specialist. Unfortunately, medical staff can underestimate the severity of the damage and fail to perform necessary treatment. In these cases, women may face extreme pain, a lifetime of incontinence, as well as additional medical complications. Obviously, this limits quality of life and has emotional effects, too. Most of the time, damage can be repaired or minimized at a later date. However, in order to receive treatment, a doctor must essentially admit that he did not perform necessary treatment or an alternate physician may need to be called upon for treatment.

Charleston Birth Injury Attorney

If you did not heal properly after childbirth and you believe the doctor misdiagnosed the degree of your tear, do not suffer in silence. Get the medical attention you need and deserve first. If your doctor was medically negligent and it caused you harm, you may be entitled to compensation. A court can award funds for your medical bills, ongoing care, reconstructive or reparative surgeries, time off from work, pain and suffering, and more. Our lawyers will listen to the details of your case and offer a legal consultation at no charge. Please use our online form or speak directly with one of our attorneys by calling 1(800)610-2546.