Postpartum Hemorrhage Attorney: Chicago, Illinois

Postpartum hemorrhage is severe or excessive bleeding in the new mother's body that occurs after childbirth.

The choice to perform a cesarean section, forceps delivery or vacuum delivery can often be the underlying cause or a contributing factor to the amount of bleeding that occurs.

In most cases, if the hemorrhage is detected and treated promptly, the prognosis is very good and the mother is able to recover with minimal complications.

Failure to properly diagnose postpartum hemorrhaging can have disastrous consequences, however, including the death of the mother or permanent brain damage to the child if the bleeding is not stopped in time.

Medical Negligence Attorneys in Postpartum Hemorrhage Claims

If you or a family member have been injured by a postpartum hemorrhage, you may need a medical malpractice lawyer to take action against the health care provider for their negligence.

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, we are an experienced medical malpractice lawyer with a long track record of helping families who have suffered from birth injuries in and around Chicago, Illinois. Give us a phone call today or fill out the contact form to schedule your free consultation.

What Causes Postpartum Hemorrhage?

After delivery of a child, the placenta must become detached from the uterine wall and passed as what is referred to as the afterbirth. The most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage is uterine atony— the inability of the uterus to contract hard enough to prevent blood vessels from bleeding out during the passing of the afterbirth.

Other causes of hemorrhaging include the following.

• Premature detachment of the placenta from the uterus.
• Incomplete separation of the placenta, causing bleeding where remaining pieces of the placenta remain attached to the uterine wall.
• Long or difficult labor.
• Forceps delivery.
• Cesarean section.
• Vacuum assisted delivery.
• Side effects of medications used to induce labor or reduce contractions.
• The presence of more than one placenta— such as in the delivery of twins or triplets.
• Inflammation or infection of the uterus.

The Need for Immediate Treatment of Women with a Postpartum Hemorrhage

Procedures such as a forceps delivery or vacuum assisted delivery are often the cause of hemorrhaging and doctors must weigh the risks before electing to proceed with these procedures. Postpartum hemorrhaging causes rapid blood loss and threatens the mother's life if it is not detected and treated immediately.

Medical professionals and delivery nurses should know the risk factors, which include placenta previa. This is when the placenta separates from the uterus and can cause heavy bleeding.

The use of Pitocin during childbirth to help move the baby into the birth canal is also a possible cause along with fetal distress. Healthcare professionals must continuously monitor the health of the mother during delivery and afterward.

Severe blood loss causes low blood pressure and may send the mother into shock. Doctors are able to detect hemorrhaging by monitoring the mother's heart rate, blood pressure and red blood cell count; and react accordingly if excessive bleeding is present.

Surgical intervention may be required in some cases to stop the bleeding and save the mother's life. In other cases, the medical treatment consists of a blood transfusion.

If the hemorrhage was the result of medical error, the hospital and its staff may be liable for the cost of any additional procedure deemed necessary to resolve the issue.

If the mother dies as a result of hemorrhaging and it is determined that failure to detect or treat the bleeding promptly was the cause, there may be cause for a wrongful death lawsuit.

Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorneys for Childbirth Injuries

The Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC is a leading birth injury law firm in Illinois with proven success representing those who have suffered undue harm because of medical malpractice. If you or a loved one was injured or died while giving birth, contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an attorney.

Your lawyer will evaluate your possible medical malpractice claim, address your concerns and explain your rights and give you legal advice on the process of litigation so that you know what to expect going forward. We only require payment when we have won or settled your case.