We can help you claim
compensation following an accident
illness or injury - nationwide
Call: 0800 10 757 95
An injury during birth can happen for a number of reasons. In many cases the baby recovers or perhaps suffers disability but sometimes the trauma can result in stillbirth.
Stillbirth is the term used in the UK to denote the death of a foetus after 24 weeks, regardless of whether the death occurred in the uterus or during labour or in delivery, and miscarriage' is used for a pre-24-week death.
There are about five stillbirths out of every 1,000 babies born in England and Wales just over 3,000 each year. A stillbirth has to be registered and a certificate issued by the authorities.
Maternal lifestyle and health are important in determining the chances of a stillbirth with factors such as smoking, drug-taking, obesity, age and certain medical conditions all believed to play a part in some fatalities.
Research has also established that causes can include bacterial infection, birth defects, growth retardation, maternal diabetes and high blood pressure, physical trauma, radiation poisoning and umbilical cord accidents.
Entanglement of the umbilical cord around the neck of the foetus or around one of its limbs can cause constriction of blood flow and, similarly, a prolapsed cord descending into the cervix is an emergency requiring immediate medical attention.
In instances such as these and where the risk of an injury during birth is recognised at an early enough stage to minimise harm, there can be a good outcome but regular, skilled monitoring and skilled intervention are essential to reduce the chance of a stillbirth.
If there is a failure by medical staff to act on signs that an unborn baby is in distress and likely to suffer injury during birth or be stillborn, the parents may be able to bring a case of medical negligence against those involved and their supervisors, depending on the circumstances.
Claiming compensation for an injury during birth
Stillbirth is an occurrence which cannot be completely explained but when the death of a newly-born child has been as the result of actions or neglect by someone, then the advice of an experienced personal injury lawyer will hopefully enable the family to come to terms with their loss more easily.
Making a medical negligence compensation claim against those liable for an injury during birth can be extremely stressful but YouClaim's experienced solicitors offer a sensitive, caring approach.
They will explain everything in plain English and you can be assured of the best professional attention because they are all supervised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and have a high success rate.
Members of YouClaim's panel are able to work throughout the UK and have achieved compensation awards for many parents who have suffered as a result of injury during birth, including stillbirth.
To find out more about how YouClaim can help you, call one of our sympathetic legal advisors on 0800 10 757 95 or contact us online via the inquiry form on this page.
