Placental Abruption

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Placental abruption occurs when the placenta detaches too early inside of a mother’s uterus. Those it’s not common, it is severe and can lead to harmful consequences for a mother and her baby.

During a pregnancy, the placenta will develop in the uterus, attaching to the walls of the uterus and giving a baby the oxygen and nutrients they need to survive. But when the placenta separates in part or completely from the uterus, the baby will not have access to those essential nutrients and oxygen, and the mother could bleed heavily. This condition comes on suddenly. About 1 in 100 women will go through placental abruption. Typically, it happens in the third trimester of a pregnancy, though it could occur after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

The causes of placental abruption include high blood pressure, preeclampsia, a multiple pregnancy, trauma or injury to the abdomen, rapid loss of amniotic fluid, smoking, nutritional deficiency, being older, especially over 40, infection inside of the uterus, or cocaine use. If a woman has high blood pressure, she needs to monitor it, and she needs to cease smoking and using drugs. If she falls or suffers from an abdominal injury while pregnant, then she needs to seek immediate medical attention.

Symptoms of Placental Abruption

A number of symptoms could arise if a mother is experiencing placental abruption. They include:

Back pain
Uterine contractions, typically coming one right after another
Tenderness
Discomfort
Tender uterus

The severity of the damage that could occur because of placental abruption is going to vary based on factors like the size and location of the separation, how much of the placenta stays connected to a baby, and how much time passes between when the abruption occurs and then a baby is delivered.

If placental abruption is not found and treated in the proper time, then a baby could lose oxygen and sustain brain damage, including cerebral palsy, a mother’s organs might fail, the mother may experience blood loss and shock, and a baby may be born prematurely or come out stillborn.

Treatment for Placental Abruption

If the placenta has separated from the uterus, then it can’t be repaired unfortunately. However, a doctor may perform blood transfusions if the mother has lost a significant amount of blood and administer intravenous fluids. In a mild case of placental abruption at 24 to 34 weeks, the doctor may prescribe the mother medications to ensure the baby’s lungs develop. Once the bleeding slows downs or ceases, then the doctor might send the mother home, but if it hasn’t then the mother will have to stay in the hospital and go through monitoring. If placental abruption is more serious, then a doctor may induce labor or perform a C-section.

There is a chance that placental abruption could lead to oxygen deprivation and cause lifelong brain injuries to a baby like cerebral palsy. If this happens, then treatment would be ongoing and include occupational, physical, and perhaps recreational therapy, surgeries, and medication. Since cerebral palsy does not go away, it will need to be managed in order to improve outcomes.

How Do I Know if Medical Malpractice Caused Placental Abruption?

It takes a birth injury lawyer to determine whether or not medical malpractice may have occurred. However, if the following happened to you, then you could have a case:

The doctor did not properly monitor you and/or your baby
The doctor delayed your C-section or did not perform one at all
The doctor did not induce you when they should have or improperly induced you

These are just a few of the factors that could have led to you and/or your baby’s injuries.

If you get in touch with a birth injury lawyer, they will ask for the evidence you have to support your medical malpractice claim. This evidence may include witness statements, photographs of your injuries as well as your baby’s injuries, and medical records. If you are missing any evidence or need help gathering it, your lawyer will be happy to assist you.

Proving medical malpractice is not easy. The standards are high because if it were easy to sue doctors, nobody would want to become one. You will need the right evidence to show that your doctor was negligent and their negligence caused injury to you and/or your baby.

How Much Will I Receive From a Placental Abruption Settlement?

When you call a birth injury lawyer, they will calculate your economic and noneconomic damages, including things like:

Medical bills
Loss of companionship and enjoyment of life
Pain and suffering
Future medical care
Loss of earning capacity

The amount of your settlement will depend on how high your damages were for your injuries, if you had any, as well as your baby’s. If your baby has cerebral palsy or another brain injury that could last for the rest of their life, then your damages, and your settlement, could be higher.

Settlement Offers in a Placental Abruption Case

After you provide the evidence you have to your lawyer, they will reach out to your doctor, who is the defendant, and attempt to reach a settlement. The defendant might not want to settle or will negotiate the settlement.

Typically, a defendant would rather settle than go to court because it is time-consuming and costly and could damage their reputation. Keep in mind that if you are not satisfied with the initial settlement, then your lawyer can go back and renegotiate with the defendant for you.

Why Contact a Birth Injury Lawyer?

If you experienced a placental abruption and now you and/or your baby are injured, then you need to spend time with your baby and your family right now. A birth injury lawyer will take care of the work for you and attempt to get you the settlement you deserve. Then, you can relax and know that someone is in your corner in your time of need.