If your baby suffered birth injury or complications from a placental abruption, you may be entitled to recover compensation from a placental abruption lawsuit case or settlement claim.
A team of birth injury lawyers and personal injury attorneys is investigating birth injury lawsuit and settlement cases involving babies who suffered birth injuries or complications from a placental abruption.
A placental abruption (abruptio placentae) is a birth injury in which the placenta (the organ that grows in the uterus that connects the fetus to the uterine wall via the umbilical cord and provides oxygen and nutrients to the fetus) prematurely pulls aways (either partially or completely) from where it is attached to the uterus (the pear-shaped muscular organ of the female reproductive system where the fetus grows, i.e., the womb). When a placenta breaks or ruptures early, a fetus can be deprived of oxygen and nutrients which can lead to serious injury or death.
Placental abruption occurs in about 0.4–1% of all pregnancies. Placental abruption is one of the most significant causes of maternal morbidity (physical or mental illness or disability directly related to pregnancy and/or childbirth) and perinatal mortality (death of a fetus or neonate).
Placental Abruption Lawsuit Cases
Placental abruption lawsuit and settlement cases potentially being investigated include claims involving babies who, due to possible medical malpractice or negligence, suffered birth injuries or complications from a placental abruption, including the following:
- Cerebral palsy
- Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
- Periventricular leukomalacia
- Birth asphyxia (lack of oxygen to baby)
- Lack of nutrients to baby
- Poor blood flow
- Brain damage
- Fetal distress
- Low birthweight
- Premature birth or preterm delivery
- Fetal heart rate abnormalities
- Intrauterine growth restriction
- Deficiency of amniotic fluid (oligohydramnios)
- Stillbirth (baby dies in uterus)
- Death
- Other placental abruption injuries
Complications for or injuries to the mother can also include disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), blood clots, hemorrhage (uncontrolled bleeding), shock, organ failure, kidney damage, need for blood transfusion, and need for hysterectomy, among others.
There are many risk factors for placental abruption including, but not limited to, smoking, preeclampsia, placenta previa, trauma, history of previous placental abruption, hypertension, cocaine use, infection, chorioamnionitis, thrombophilia, water breaking prematurely, carrying twins or triplets, maternal age, and umbilical cord or uterus problems.
Placental Abruption Malpractice Claims
Placental abruption malpractice lawsuit and settlement claims can include the failure of a doctor or OB-GYN to exercise reasonable care in diagnosing, treating, preventing and/or refraining from causing placental abruption injury including, for example:
- Failure to monitor for placental abruption signs
- Failure to promptly diagnose a placental abruption
- Failure to properly treat placental abruption complications
- Failure to make sure a baby gets sufficient oxygen
- Failure to timely deliver baby via C-section
- Failure to identify and monitor placental abruption risk factors
- Failure to order appropriate tests (ultrasound, blood tests, etc.)
- Failure to follow-up
- Other forms of malpractice or negligence
Placental Abruption Signs & Symptoms
Placental abruption signs and symptoms can include:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Lower abdominal pain (belly pain)
- Uterine contractions (labor pains) that don’t relax
- Blood in the amniotic fluid
- Low blood pressure
- Decreased fetal movement
- Decreased fetal heart rate
- Feeling faint
- Enlarged uterus
- Uterine tenderness
- Backache
Placental abruptions can be categorized by grade: Grade 1 generally includes some vaginal bleeding and uterine contractions; Grade 2 generally includes more bleeding and contractions and some signs of fetal distress; Grade 3 generally includes more severe bleeding and uterine contractions that do not relaxed, as well as abdominal pain, low blood pressure and possible fetal death.
There is no treatment to reverse placental abruption or reattach a placenta that has separated from the wall of a uterus. However, depending on the severity of the separation, the amount of blood loss, location of separation and age of pregnancy, treatment can include, for example, intravenous (IV) fluids, supplemental oxygen, continuous maternal and fetal monitoring, immediate delivery (if fetus is mature or if fetus or mother is in distress, blood volume replacement, blood plasma replacement, and/or emergency C-section (if there is fetal distress).
If your baby was injured or suffered complications at birth due to a placental abruption, you and your child may be entitled to compensation from a placental abruption lawsuit or settlement. Contact a birth injury lawyer to request a free case review.
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