When Birth Goes Wrong and Mothers Pay the Price

As a new or expecting mother, your focus during childbirth is on delivering a healthy baby, not on being rushed into emergency surgery, losing too much blood, or waking up in the ICU. You envision relief, joy, and holding your child for the first time, not trauma.

Unfortunately, some mothers suffer serious, preventable injuries during labor and delivery. And when those injuries occur due to a medical mistake, it may be considered a form of negligence.

If you were hurt during childbirth and believe it could have been avoided, you have the right to seek answers.

It Wasn’t Just a Tough Delivery

Every birth is different. Some go smoothly, while others involve complications. But when medical providers fail to monitor the mother, respond to warning signs, or act quickly, those complications can spiral into preventable emergencies.

Injuries to the mother that may result from medical negligence include:

• Uterine rupture
• Excessive blood loss (hemorrhage)
• Post-delivery infections
• Pelvic or bladder damage
• Anesthesia-related injuries
• Torn or damaged reproductive organs

These outcomes aren’t just part of a “difficult delivery.” In many cases, they’re signs that something was missed or mishandled by the medical team.

Common Causes of Maternal Injuries

Childbirth is unpredictable, but hospitals and healthcare providers are trained for that. When serious injuries occur, it’s often because someone failed to respond properly in a critical moment.

Common causes of maternal injuries linked to medical negligence include:

• Poor monitoring of vital signs during labor
• Ignoring signs of maternal distress or excessive bleeding
• Delayed decisions regarding emergency C-sections
• Improper use of delivery tools like forceps or vacuums
• Misuse of labor-inducing medications such as Pitocin
• Failure to diagnose or treat infections in a timely manner

These errors can turn a manageable delivery into a crisis within minutes, and they put the mother’s life at risk.

Physical recovery is only part of the equation. Many mothers also face long-term consequences, including chronic pain, infertility, and post-traumatic stress. And in some cases, they don’t realize until much later that their suffering could have been prevented.

How to Know If Medical Negligence Played a Role

It’s not always easy to tell whether a maternal injury was the result of a medical error or just an unfortunate outcome. However, certain red flags may suggest that negligence has occurred. Consider the following signs:

• Your concerns were ignored or dismissed during labor.
• You weren’t informed of potential risks or complications.
• Medical staff delayed care or failed to respond during an emergency.
• You experienced a rare complication that wasn’t properly managed.
• Another doctor later told you the situation was mishandled.

If any of these sound familiar, it’s worth taking a closer look. With the help of a birth injury attorney, you may uncover evidence that your injury was preventable and grounds for a medical malpractice claim.

What You Can Do Now

If you believe your injury was the result of poor care during childbirth, start by requesting a copy of your medical records. These documents can help reveal what actions were taken and what may have been missed.

Keep a detailed record of your symptoms, your recovery process, and any follow-up treatments you’ve needed. This information can be crucial in showing how the injury has affected your physical health, emotional well-being, and daily life.

Most importantly, speak with someone who understands birth injury cases. You don’t need to have all the answers right away. A knowledgeable attorney can help you know what happened and determine the best steps to take next.

Why Filing a Claim Matters

One word: accountability. No one should suffer because a healthcare provider failed to do their job, and no one responsible for that harm should walk away without consequences.

Filing a medical malpractice claim isn’t just about what happened to you. It’s about making sure it doesn’t happen to someone else.

It’s also about justice. Birth injuries can affect every part of your life, physically, emotionally, and financially. That’s why compensation may be available for:

• Medical bills, including surgeries and long-term treatment
• Lost income if you’ve been unable to work
• Pain and suffering
• Therapy or mental health support for trauma or depression
• Permanent disability or reduced quality of life
• Future medical needs if your injuries require ongoing care

You don’t have to go through this alone. Taking legal action may be the first step toward healing and holding the system accountable.

You Deserved a Safe Birth Experience

Childbirth is intense, emotional, and unforgettable. But when that experience is made worse by a preventable medical error, you're left dealing with the consequences, physically, emotionally, and financially.

If you were injured during labor or delivery and believe it could have been avoided, Morgan & Morgan’s birth injury attorneys are here to help. We can review your case, seek the truth, and hold the responsible party accountable.

Fill out our free case evaluation form today. You pay nothing unless we win.