During childbirth, the focus can often be solely on the baby.
But the health of new mothers should also be the priority. In 2021, over 1,200 women died in the United States as a result of pregnancy or delivery complications (up by 38.2 percent from 2020), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Postpartum hemorrhage is the leading cause of these complications, with 11 percent of new moms in the U.S. bleeding too much. While that may not seem like a lot on a percentage basis, it equates to 474,000 affected women.
Postpartum hemorrhage is when a new mother starts bleeding profusely and to a dangerous level after giving birth. Postpartum hemorrhages most often occur after cesarean births. Most postpartum hemorrhages happen immediately after birth, but sometimes they can occur slightly later.
During labor, a pregnant woman experiences contractions to help deliver her baby. After the baby arrives, her uterus continues to contract to push out the placenta.
After the placenta is delivered, the contractions continue to aid in compressing the bleeding vessels where the placenta was attached. If the uterus does not contract strongly enough, the blood vessels would bleed freely, and a hemorrhage would occur.
Some new mothers face a higher risk of postpartum hemorrhage. These conditions increase a mother’s risk:
New moms are also at risk for postpartum hemorrhages if:
It’s rare, but postpartum hemorrhage can be life-threatening to the new mother.
If a new mom experiences excessive and rapid blood loss, it can cause a severe drop in the mother's blood pressure. This may lead to shock or death if not treated properly.
If you experience any of these symptoms, immediately alert your doctor or call 9-1-1.
If you think your wife had a postpartum hemorrhage that was caused by a doctor’s error or medical malpractice, you may be entitled to compensation through a medical malpractice lawsuit. While there is nothing we can do to bring your wife back, we can help you recover financially. Childbirth can be expensive, and if you’ve lost your spouse, you probably have funeral expenses to deal with, along with medical bills. Let our experienced medical malpractice attorneys in Philadelphia help you help your family.
At Ross Feller Casey, we have a national reputation for helping families during this difficult time. We have an unmatched record of winning all types of medical malpractice cases, including multimillion-dollar recoveries in lawsuits involving postpartum hemorrhage deaths.
With our team of Ivy league-trained doctors and doctor-lawyers right on staff, we’re able to advise you and your family throughout the legal process. Ross Feller Casey handles all of its cases on a contingency basis. That means that you will not pay a thing until a recovery is made in your case. Call today for a free consultation.
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