Many women have good healthy pregnancies and a good birth experience. Sadly, this is however not the case for all and there are common maternal injuries both physical and psychological which can occur.
Physical injuries can include retained placenta when some or all of the placenta remains in the uterus after the baby is born. Three percent of women experience this. Sometimes complications arise during surgery when implements are retained in the womb. Infections can occur along with uterus rupture, perennial tears or obstetric anal sphincter injury which involve injuries to the skin and tissue between the vagina and anus. In 2022-23 perineal lacerations occurred in 30% of all deliveries.
In addition to the above other injuries include uterine rupture, urological injury, anaesthetic complications, fractures and sometimes sadly maternal death. In 2021-23 the maternal mortality rate was 12.67 deaths per 100,000.
As a consequence of the physical injury, women develop symptoms such as constipation, faecal urgency, faecal incontinence and impaired rectal vacuation, flatus incontinence (feeling of passing wind from the vagina), virginal and rectal prolapse, urinary incontinence and hernia.
In addition to the physical injuries that women sometimes endure, they also can endure symptoms of PTSD as a result of not only traumatic events which take place during the birth, but also as a result of subsequent physical injuries sustained.
It is a case that quite often the injuries sustained are not as a result of any negligence arising from the hospital staff but however often the injuries could have been avoided. The injuries can have life long impact on the maternal mother.
If you feel that you have suffered from maternal injury/trauma please do not hesitate to contact our office and arrange a free 1 hour consultation to discuss your options.