Medical Malpractice Claims for Uterine Rupture

A uterine rupture is a dangerous complication that can happen during a vaginal birth. The mother’s uterus tears, which causes the baby to slide into her abdomen. It usually occurs when a mother has developed uterine scars from a prior cesarean delivery or from another uterine surgery. A woman’s risk of a uterine rupture increases with multiple cesarean births.

OB/GYNs typically recommend that a woman who has had previous cesarean deliveries be told that the risks of a uterine tear increase with vaginal births and that cesarean births are then generally less risky.

The symptoms of a uterine rupture

Possible symptoms include:

• Dangerous levels of vaginal bleeding
• Pain between contractions
• Pain in the abdomen near the site of the uterine scar
• The possibility the baby’s heart rate may be abnormal
• The delivery may not progress in a natural way

Uterine ruptures can occur when there hasn’t been a previous cesarean, but they are much more common when a cesarean was previously performed.

If a uterine rupture occurs during a vaginal delivery, the obstetrician and birth team need to move quickly to perform an emergency cesarean operation. Otherwise, the baby may not get enough oxygen which can cause a variety of devastating birth injuries.

Complications for the baby from a rupture can include:

• Cerebral palsy, which affects a child’s cognitive skills, motor skills, muscles, and personal development
• Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), caused by a lack of oxygen, can cause developmental problems, neurological disorders, brain injury, and death
• Seizures
• Cardiology dangers
• Respiratory dangers
• Death

The mother may be at risk of bleeding out, and failure to address the rupture or the blood loss quickly can also lead to her death.

What medical failures may be medical malpractice?

Gynecologists and birth doctors should take a full history of the mother’s prior births and prior operations. The birth team should also understand what medications the mother is taking during the pregnancy.

Medical malpractice in uterine rupture cases typically includes:

• Failing to diagnose a uterine rupture during a vaginal birth
• Failing to properly inform the mother of known risks of a rupture
• Failing to perform a timely C-section or failing to take other medical precautions

Continuing with a vaginal birth after a uterine rupture is a strong indicator the doctor or midwife has committed medical malpractice.

Birth injuries devastate lives. Newborns often need long-term medical care. Many never have a normal life. Parents suffer in multiple ways. They agonize over a child’s pain, worry about the child’s quality of life, and spend countless hours, days, months, and even years taking care of their child. The Memphis birth injury lawyers at Bailey & Greer, PLLC, can help. Our lawyers have obtained numerous settlements and verdicts in birth injury cases. We fight for parents and newborns in Memphis, Jackson, and West Tennessee. Phone us today at 901-680-9777 or complete our contact form to make an appointment with our highly skilled legal team.