Uterine rupture during pregnancy can result in maternal complications, such as excessive pain and bleeding. It can also cause significant fetal distress and, in some cases, brain damage, cerebral palsy, or other birth injuries.
In some cases, medical negligence can contribute to uterine rupture and the health conditions it creates. The birth injury lawyers at Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy have built our reputation as fierce advocates for families suffering serious consequences from birth trauma caused by negligence.
If you need legal help, don’t hesitate to contact us today for a free consultation.
What Is a Uterine Rupture?
Uterine rupture occurs when the wall of the uterus tears during labor. If the tear extends through the entire uterine wall, the results can be fatal for both the mother and child. Uterine rupture typically occurs early in the labor process.
Signs that a rupture has occurred can include:
- Intense pain beyond what is considered normal for routine labor
- Abnormal heart rate for fetus
- Rapid heart rate in mother
- Loss of uterine contractions
- Protrusion of the fetus, placenta, or both into the abdominal cavity
- Vaginal bleeding
- Shock
Risk Factors for Uterine Rupture
Who is at risk for a uterine rupture? Some women choose to deliver a baby vaginally after a previous cesarean section. This is known as VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean section).
A prior cesarean section can weaken the uterine wall and possibly cause the uterus to tear or rupture during labor in the future. Inducing or augmenting labor, or birthing an infant that is large for gestational age, can increase the risk for tearing along the scar line from a previous cesarean section.
Other risk factors for uterine rupture include:
- Trauma to the abdomen during pregnancy (e.g., motor vehicle accident)
- Fetal position that is not conducive to vaginal birth
- Uterine manipulation
- Grand multiparity, meaning a woman has had five or more pregnancies reaching at least 24 weeks
- An interval of 18 months or fewer between births
How Uterine Rupture Affects the Infant
From the time of the rupture until the time of delivery, the fetus is at high risk for receiving little to no oxygen. This can cause severe neurological damage and even death.
Prolonged oxygen deprivation, known as birth asphyxia, can lead to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a serious condition that damages brain tissue. This oxygen deprivation may result in cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, developmental delays, seizure disorders, and other forms of permanent brain damage, with the severity depending on the duration and degree of oxygen loss.
If uterine rupture is suspected or confirmed by an ultrasound, the baby must be delivered by emergency cesarean section. The newborn will likely need to be resuscitated immediately after birth and may be transferred to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
How Uterine Rupture Affects the Mother
Research suggests, on average, that one uterine rupture occurs for every 5,000 to 7,000 births. The condition can typically be detected and avoided by constant monitoring of the birthing process. However, should a uterine rupture occur, an emergency cesarean section should be performed within minutes.
Blood loss can be severe, and the mother may need a blood transfusion. A hysterectomy might also be necessary following a rupture.
Medical Negligence and Uterine Rupture
Healthcare providers have a responsibility to consider risk factors for uterine rupture and take appropriate actions to prevent it whenever possible. Sadly, negligence can contribute to preventable uterine ruptures and the ensuing aftermath.
Common examples of medical negligence related to uterine rupture include:
- Failure to Take Precautions Based on Mother’s History: This includes ignoring a patient’s history of C-sections, uterine surgeries, or other risk factors when creating a birth plan. Healthcare providers should thoroughly review a patient’s history to see if VBAC is appropriate or whether a planned C-section would be safer.
- Failure to Monitor Labor and Diagnose Uterine Rupture: Insufficient fetal monitoring during labor, especially for high-risk patients, can lead to missed warning signs. Doctors and nurses should look for abnormal fetal heart patterns, maternal vital sign changes, and other indicators of potential rupture.
- Delayed Response to Signs of a Uterine Rupture: Once signs of uterine rupture appear, every minute matters. Delayed emergency C-section decisions can significantly impact both maternal and infant health.
- Overuse of Induction Agents Like Pitocin or Cervidil: Inappropriate or excessive use of labor-inducing medications can place serious stress on a weakened uterus. These medications must be used with extreme caution in patients with prior uterine scarring.
Compensation for Uterine Rupture Birth Injuries
Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy can help your family determine your full losses and fight for maximum compensation when a uterine rupture has been caused by medical negligence.
Damages that you might be entitled to include:
- Medical Expenses: This includes past and future expenses for both the mother and infant. It can include emergency treatment, surgeries, hospitalizations, medications, follow-up appointments, and any other medical care needed because of the uterine rupture.
- Physical, Speech, or Other Therapies: Children who experience brain damage due to oxygen deprivation may require years of different forms of therapy to maximize their capabilities and quality of life.
- Special Education Services: Children with developmental delays or intellectual disabilities resulting from birth injuries may need specialized educational programs and interventions.
- Caretaking Services: Many children with severe birth injuries require lifelong care beyond what family members can provide, which means a need for professional caregivers.
- Assistive Devices and Adaptive Equipment: This can include wheelchairs, communication devices, specialized eating utensils, and other tools that help improve quality of life.
- Home and Vehicle Modifications: Families may need to install ramps, widen doorways, modify bathrooms, or purchase specially equipped vehicles to accommodate their child’s needs.
- Lost Wages: Sometimes parents have to take significant time away from work to care for an injured child or to recover from maternal injuries.
- Lost Future Earning Capacity: This accounts for reduced income potential for both the injured child and parents who must reduce work hours to provide care.
- Pain and Suffering: This compensates for physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life experienced by both mother and child.
Get Help From an Experienced Ohio Birth Injury Lawyer
Giving birth to a child can be one of the most wonderful experiences in life, but it can also be one of the most dangerous. If you suffered a uterine rupture while giving birth, or your child suffered injuries you believe should have been prevented, we’re here to help.
We have years of experience helping mothers and children who were harmed by a medical provider’s negligence. Contact us today for a free consultation.
We can answer your questions and help ensure you and your child get the compensation you need for current and future medical expenses.
