Many women who have not had a cesarean section previously could be at risk of unpredictable complications including umbilical cord prolapse, placental abruption and shoulder dystocia. A doctor should be aware of the risk factors and be prepared to respond appropriately to them to prevent or minimize the impacts on mother and baby.

If the doctor involved made mistakes or failed to notice complications during labor and delivery, the mother may suffer serious injuries or even possibly die due to a rupture. Our wrongful death lawyers have years of experience helping family members with this difficult and life-changing situation. Surviving family members could be eligible to file an Ohio maternal death lawsuit.

Occurrence of Uterine Ruptures

A uterine scar rupture is rare, but it is also quite serious. It requires immediate surgical intervention to protect the life of the baby as well as the mother. Uterine rupture refers to a separation through a thickness of the uterine wall at the location of a former cesarean incision. Most cesarean uterine incisions are low transverse, which is least likely to rupture in a subsequent birth. However, sometimes the scar can stretch thin enough to cause a window. This can be an incomplete rupture or an asymptomatic separation. Women who have had a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) or repeat cesareans are at higher risk.

Uterine ruptures have also been known to occur in some women who have never had a cesarean section in the past, which is why it is important for all the physicians during the labor and delivery to be monitoring the safety of the mother. A doctor who does not act within the appropriate standard of care may be held responsible in a lawsuit pursuing compensation for the family members.

Most uterine ruptures cannot be diagnosed or appropriately predicted before they actually happen, but they should be responded to immediately when occurring during the labor and delivery process. Signs of a complete or partial uterine rupture include:

Women who gave birth once by cesarean may have the option of laboring for a VBAC or scheduling a repeat cesarean on an elective basis. Women with one prior cesarean should be counseled about VBAC during early pregnancy and offered a trial of labor. Discovering that your family member died possibly because a doctor did not monitor this situation the right way can be overwhelming in the face of grief, but our attorneys can help.

Our lawyers have extensive experience in this field and are committed to fighting for the positive outcomes.