What Birth Injuries Can Mothers Suffer From?

Ensuring a safe and healthy birth is one of the most important responsibilities of obstetricians and gynecologists (OB/GYNs), midwives, doulas, and other medical professionals who handle this area of medicine.

However, their negligence, or more appropriately, their failure to uphold a standard of care, may lead to preventable injuries to moms during the labor and delivery process.  

What birth injuries can mothers suffer from, and how often does it happen? Those are some questions we’ll address below. 

Understanding the Frequency with Which Pregnant Mothers Suffer Injuries During Childbirth 

Birth injuries to newborn infants have been generally declining. Birth trauma rates fell from 2.6 per 1,000 live births to 1.9 per 1,000 over the most recently studied timeframe, according to a 2023 StatPearls study published by the National Library of Medicine (NLM).  

However, pregnant women remain extremely likely to suffer some form of childbirth-related trauma. According to a study published in the Journal of Perinatal Education, as many as 45% of new mothers reported experiencing some form of birth trauma. 

Given the frequency of this issue, it stands to reason that medical professionals are well-versed in mitigating problems as they arise and hopefully well before they become unmanageable. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case in far too many instances.  

Common Types of Birth Injuries Mothers Suffer 

Research conducted as part of a Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project study and published by the NLM shows that thousands of preventable serious injuries occur during childbirth every year. These preventable injuries cause mothers and their babies to suffer serious long-term health impacts and sometimes claim their lives.  

Some of the most common birth injuries mothers can suffer from include: 

• Infections and sepsis 

• Uterine rupture 

• Miscarriage 

• Amniotic fluid embolisms 

• Vaginal lacerations 

• Post-partum hemorrhage 

• Preeclampsia 

• Maternal death 

Indicators That a Pregnant Woman May Be at a High Risk for Suffering a Birth Injury 

Doctors and other healthcare providers must certainly carefully monitor and care for their pregnant patients to minimize their risk of suffering birth injuries. However, as you’re well aware, you must look out for yourself as well.  

Understanding the warning signs of potential birth injuries can be extremely helpful. Some common symptoms to be on the lookout for include: 

• Constant lower back pain 

• Pain while having sex 

• Urinary and/or fecal incontinence 

• Sweating, shaking, headaches, dizziness, chest pain, and other physical symptoms 

• Gastrointestinal issues 

• Continued pain at the site of an episiotomy or tear after birth 

• A lump or bulge at the vaginal opening 

• Looseness of the pelvic floor or vaginal muscle 

• A feeling that something is falling out or dragging when standing up or lifting objects 

While these symptoms may not definitively be a sign of a birth injury, they’re certainly concerns that you should report to your doctor as soon as possible. At the very least, they will be able to give you a full checkup to identify any potential issues that need to be addressed. 

Common Risk Factors Associated With Maternal Childbirth Injuries 

While not all birth-related injuries can be prevented, there are a number of risk factors that both you and your doctors should be aware of in order to mitigate any risks involved. Some of the most common risk factors include: 

• Overly long labor or complications during labor 

• Giving birth to an extremely large infant 

• The position of the baby as it moves through the birth canal 

• Having a first child over the age of 35 

• Previously had a severe perineal tear 

• Shoulder dystocia 

Your Legal Options If You Suffered Complications During the Labor and Delivery Process in Illinois 

Birth injuries are serious issues and can have potentially life-altering consequences. In far too many cases, these injuries could have been prevented had your healthcare provider made different choices when treating you. 

If you or someone you love was the victim of negligence such as medical malpractice that resulted in you suffering a serious birth injury in Illinois, you may be able to file a lawsuit to secure the compensation you need to cover any medical bills and other damages caused by the injury.  

With an experienced Marion birth injury lawyer on your side, you have the best chance to fight for the legal outcome you deserve. Contact Prince Law Firm today to discuss your situation and schedule a free case consultation.  

With decades of experience handling these types of cases throughout Illinois, you can rest assured that you’re in good hands when you work with our firm.