Maternal Death - Medical Provider Negligence Rupture of Membranes
During pregnancy, a fluid bag referred to as the amniotic sac protects the fetus from incurring injuries. Holes or tears cause what is called rupture of the membranes.
Get A 100% Free CASE EvaluationMost women and medical providers call the breakage of this sac their “water broke.” Most tearing of the casing occurs at the onset of labor and the contractions grow stronger as a result to the rupturing of the membrane. You might feel the fluid burst out of the amniotic sac, as well as the same leaking feeling well into labor, as the casing continues to produce fluid.
Spontaneous
The closer you get to your expected birth delivery date, the more pressure the uterus places on the bladder. If you experience a strong Braxton Hicks contraction or a violent sneeze, urine can start to leak from the casing. Spontaneous leaks happen most often when a pregnant woman is lying down. The lying position generates more momentum for the urine to move. You usually only feel a trickle of fluid when you are in a standing position. Standing causes an infant’s head to act like a cork because the head pushes downwards against the cervix.
Signs
Casing fluid that leaks from the vagina appears a darker shade of green could indicate an issue. A distinct foul odor might emanate from the vaginal cavity, which might indicate an infection of the uterus. Although small, thin streaks of blood represent a common event whenever urine leaks, fluid that contains mostly all blood could mean there is a serious problem with the placenta.
Contact your medical provider immediately after detecting leaked urine from a ruptured membrane. Never attempt to treat the birth delivery condition yourself.
Premature
Premature ruptures of the membranes (PROM) happen when the amniotic sac rips or tears before the onset of labor. Most cases of PROM induce labor, and you only require medical attention for the delivery of your child. Preterm rupture of the membranes is a much more serious health care issue. The tearing of a wall that occurs before 37 weeks defines the term premature.
PROMs have an incidence rate of 15%, while the frequency of PPROMs is much lower at 3%. Women who smoke during pregnancy and experienced a previous ripping of a membrane wall are at a higher risk for premature ruptures. Other risk factors include certain sexually transmitted diseases, bacterial vaginosis, and an abruption of the placenta. Carrying more than one baby also creates enough pressure to rip the sac.
Medical Provider Negligence Lawsuit in Ohio
Medical malpractice represents negligence committed by an act or an omission by a medical provider in which the standard of care is breached. The deviation from the standard of care can cause birth injuries and even maternal death. Many medical providers carry liability insurance to handle the costs of lawsuits filed by patients.
You have an Ohio medical malpractice case when two events happen. First, the health care professional treating you made a mistake. Second, the mistake should have caused a birth injury. Ohio courts examine the accepted medical standard of care and compare it with the level of care you received. For example, if you experience a ruptured membrane that your obstetrician failed to diagnose, the undetected leaked fluid can lead to health complications. Doctors, nurses, hospitals, and surgeons are just some of medical professionals capable of committing medical malpractice.
To determine whether your medical provider committed negligence in the diagnosis and treatment of a ruptured sac, contact a licensed attorney who has litigated medical malpractice cases in the State of Ohio.