An In-Depth Look at Maternal Birth Injuries

When most people hear the term “birth injury,” they assume it is in reference to an injury a newborn suffered during childbirth. While many birth injury cases do involve newborn injuries, there are also cases in which the mother suffers injuries or illness during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum at the hands of their healthcare provider. These are called maternal birth injuries and in many instances are preventable. 

If you’ve endured a maternal birth injury, and your healthcare provider’s negligence is the cause, you could be entitled to financial compensation. We go into further detail below about some more common types of maternal birth injuries our top-rated Kentucky personal injury lawyers handle here at Wilt and Thompson, PLLC.

Postpartum Hemorrhage 

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) refers to a serious condition in which a woman has heavy bleeding after giving birth. This extreme blood loss can cause blood pressure to drop and cause shock or even death. Your medical team should have carefully monitored you after giving birth to ensure any signs of PPH were caught and treated right away. If they didn’t, your birth injury lawyer at Wilt and Thompson, PLLC, can help.

Ruptured or Prolapsed Uterus

Uterine rupture can be life threatening for both mother and baby. The mother’s uterus will tear during a vaginal childbirth, causing the baby to slip out of the uterus and into the abdomen. The mother can suffer severe blood loss and the baby could suffocate if untreated. 

Uterine prolapse refers to a weakening of the muscles of the pelvic floor. When the pelvic floor is unable to hold the uterus, it can slide down and begin to protrude out of the vagina. Failure to provide adequate follow-up care is one of the more common causes of a prolapsed uterus.


Preeclampsia is another dangerous medical condition that can affect both mother and baby. It consists of several symptoms including high blood pressure, protein in the urine, and swelling in the hands and feet. Healthcare providers who fail to treat or diagnose preeclampsia could be held accountable for any injuries mother or baby sustained during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or postpartum as a result of preeclampsia. 

Episiotomy and Vaginal Tearing

A woman may need to have an episiotomy if there are complications during childbirth and the vaginal canal needs to be widened to assist in the birth. This is different from vaginal tearing which often occurs naturally during childbirth. These tears can become infected if not properly taken care of or sutured correctly.

Contact a Maternal Birth Injury Lawyer

When your healthcare provider failed you and you suffered a devastating injury as a result of their negligence, you need legal representation. Call an experienced maternal birth injury lawyer at Wilt and Thompson, PLLC to discuss your potential claim. Fill out the quick contact form below or give our office a call at 502-253-9110 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation. 

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