We can help you claim
compensation following an accident
illness or injury - nationwide
Call: 0800 10 757 95
When stillbirth occurs, it is extremely distressing for everybody concerned. Sometimes it is due to a chromosomal or other congenital abnormality but often no obvious cause can be found, which can be upsetting and difficult for parents.
Medical negligence may be involved if the attending obstetrician and midwives failed to take the necessary steps to carry out procedures properly which could have prevented a birth injury. Parents who feel their unborn child did not receive adequate medical attention or that what they received was sub-standard may be able to make a birth injury claim.
Medical complications that can occur include inadequate monitoring of foetal distress, oxygen deprivation, a compressed umbilical cord and infections.
One of the most common things parents say after experiencing a stillbirth is that they would have liked to have had more information about it before the birth. A good source of information is the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society (SANDS) at www.uk-sands.org.
An example of a stillbirth malpractice case would be a mother not being forewarned of the risks of home-birth and subsequently giving birth to a stillborn child and suffering psychiatric problems.
What exactly is a stillbirth?
Stillbirth is the death of a baby before delivery. It differs from a miscarriage by the time the loss occurs. A miscarriage is when a baby dies before the 20th week of pregnancy, whereas a stillbirth happens after this point.
The causes of some stillbirths are unknown but around half of stillbirth cases can be established by examining the placenta. Apart from congenital causes, birth defects are a common cause which is often overlooked. About one quarter of stillborn babies have birth defects. Read more about birth defects.
If the placenta and umbilical cord, which transports nutrients, blood and oxygen, is cut off or compressed, this affects the flow to the baby. If the baby is deprived of oxygen, they will suffer a serious birth injury and die. This only causes a small number of stillbirths, however.
Other causes include infections from bacteria, growth problems and environmental risks. Conditions the mother is experiencing may play a part, especially if she is suffering from illnesses like diabetes or hypertension.
Taking drugs or drinking alcohol during pregnancy and medical conditions such as preeclampsia can also increase the risk of a stillbirth occurring. Warning signs of a stillbirth during pregnancy include lack of movement from the baby and vaginal bleeding.
Making a birth injury claim
Experiencing a stillbirth is an extremely traumatic event for the whole family. The loss of a child at any time is always hard, but the death of a child before birth can be difficult to understand.
If you have experienced a stillbirth as a result of medical negligence you have the option of making a birth injury claim. We offer a sensitive, caring service that allows you to do so in the most straightforward, stress-free way possible.
Our personal injury solicitors are expert at dealing with birth injury cases and have an excellent success rate. They are viewed as being some of the finest in this specialist area and have been able to secure large compensation settlements for many parents across the UK.
Call us now on 0800 10 757 95 and we will handle your case with understanding and explain how you can make a birth injury claim.
