Fayetteville, AR Maternal Hemorrhage Attorney
Expectant parents are typically only concerned with the health and safety of their child during childbirth. However, it is also possible for a mother to suffer a serious injury while giving birth. When a mother suffers a hemorrhage during a delivery, there is a question of whether her physician provided her with adequate care. If you or a family member was injured while giving birth, contact an experienced Fayetteville maternal hemorrhage attorney today.
At Bennett & Heyman, we are determined to provide you with the legal representation that you deserve to pursue a negligent doctor or hospital for medical malpractice. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your claim, contact Bennett & Heyman at (410) 429-7856, or contact us online.
Common Causes of Maternal Hemorrhages
For a mother that is giving birth, losing some amount of blood is an ordinary symptom of childbirth. However, if a mother loses too much blood while giving birth, this can be a sign that a doctor did not exercise care during the delivery. The following is a list of common causes of maternal hemorrhages.
Misuse of Birth Instruments
When a mother is giving birth, there is a possibility that the child could become stuck in the birth canal and become distressed. If this happens, the doctor in charge of the pregnancy may employ the use of birth instruments to help remove the infant from the birth canal.
Birth instruments like forceps and vacuum extractors are usually attached to the head of a child to gently pull them from the birth canal. However, if a doctor exercises too much force when using a birth instrument, they can not only injure a child, but they can also cause damage to the mother’s birth canal. As a result, the mother could experience severe bleeding beyond what is normal during labor.
Excessive Medication
When a mother is in labor, there are a number of medications that can be used to help her deliver. For example, Pitocin is a drug that is commonly used to induce labor or to speed up contractions for a mother. However, this drug can cause a mother to experience violent contractions that could cause hemorrhaging, and that may injure the child.
Additionally, if a doctor prescribes medication that interacts poorly with other medication prescribed to a mother, this can potentially cause hemorrhaging issues.
Improper Cesarean Section
A doctor performs a cesarean section by making an incision into a mother’s stomach in order to pull the child from the womb. A cesarean section is typically used when labor would be too stressful for a mother, her child, or both. However, if a doctor is not cautious when performing a cesarean section, the doctor could make the incision too deep and cause a severe hemorrhage.
Infection of the Uterus
During the course of a pregnancy, the expectant mother’s doctor must apprise a mother of medical conditions that could endanger her life or the life of her child. For example, if a mother has an infection that could affect her pregnancy, a doctor should diagnose the condition and suggest treatment options. Failure to do so could result in a valid claim for medical malpractice.
There are other causes of postpartum hemorrhaging that are not listed above. To learn more about filing a lawsuit for injuries caused by postpartum hemorrhaging, continue reading and speak with an experienced Fayetteville postpartum hemorrhaging injury lawyer.
When to File a Lawsuit for Maternal Hemorrhaging Injuries in Fayetteville, AR
If you were injured due to the negligence of a doctor, you should consider filing a lawsuit to pursue compensation. A maternal hemorrhage is a medical condition that, if left untreated could cause the death of a mother.
When filing a medical malpractice claim for a maternal birth injury, a plaintiff should be aware that they have a strict time limit to file their case. This is referred to as the statute of limitations. In Arkansas, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice lawsuits is two years from the date of the injury. If a plaintiff does not file their claim within this timeframe, the court could bar their claim from being filed. As a result, an injured mother may not have an avenue to seek compensation for their injury.
Despite the two-year timeframe for medical malpractice lawsuits, do not wait too long to seek the aid of an experienced attorney to evaluate your claims.
Contact Our Experienced Fayetteville Maternal Hemorrhaging Injury Lawyers Today
If you were injured while giving birth to your child, you should consult with an experienced Fayetteville maternal hemorrhage lawyer today. The medical malpractice lawyers at Bennett & Heyman understand the difficulty of caring for a newborn after suffering an injury like maternal hemorrhaging, and we are here for you in your time of need. To schedule a free case evaluation, contact us at (410) 429-7856.