Hospital Negligence: Pregnancy & Birth Injuries

Pregnancy is often a time of mixed emotions – joy, excitement, and sometimes anxiety. Above all, expectant mothers hope for a smooth pregnancy and the safe arrival of a healthy baby. To achieve this, they place immense trust in the healthcare professionals responsible for their maternity care.

These professionals have a legal and ethical duty to provide care that meets reasonable standards and to prevent avoidable harm to both mother and child. While most pregnancies and births proceed without complications, there are unfortunate instances where mistakes occur – either during pregnancy or labour – resulting in injury or illness.

If a healthcare provider delivers substandard care that causes preventable harm, the affected mother may be entitled to seek compensation.

Examples of Negligence During Pregnancy

• Inadequate antenatal monitoring
• Failure to diagnose pregnancy-related conditions
• Incorrect or inappropriate medication prescriptions
• Missed diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy
• Failure to identify a miscarriage

Examples of Negligence During Childbirth

• Poor monitoring of mother and baby during labour
• Delay or failure to perform a necessary caesarean section
• Failure to carry out an episiotomy, resulting in perineal tears
• Missed diagnosis or treatment of perineal tears
• Incorrect use of forceps or ventouse
• Errors during caesarean section, including anaesthetic mismanagement

Potential Consequences of Substandard Maternity Care

• Stillbirth or neonatal death
• Cerebral palsy
• Erb’s palsy
• Birth defects
• Brain injuries
• Bone fractures
• Infections (e.g., sepsis)
• Perineal tears
• Uterine rupture
• Severe haemorrhage
• Organ damage
• Psychological trauma

Seeking Support and Legal Advice

It is not possible for us to list all the possible scenarios in which hospital negligence can occur. The truth is, no mother or baby should suffer avoidable harm during pregnancy or labour. Unfortunately, mistakes can happen, and the impact can be devastating and life changing. If you or your child has suffered illness or injury due to negligent medical care, you may be able to claim compensation.

You should consider contacting Aston Knight, and our experienced Solicitors can provide support and legal advice on making a claim against the hospital or GP practice involved. We can take away the stress of making a claim by fully explaining the process and guiding you through every step of the way. We are not only here to ensure you are properly compensated for any injury resulting from maternity negligence, but we will also ensure that your/your child’s current and future rehabilitation needs are identified and met.