Pregnancy Complications & Maternal Negligence Claims

Pregnancy Complications and Medical Negligence

Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia: Pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure with protein in urine) affects up to 6% of UK pregnancies. If not detected through routine monitoring, it can progress to eclampsia (seizures), HELLP syndrome (liver and blood clotting disorder), and can be fatal for mother and baby. Negligence includes failure to check blood pressure and urine at antenatal appointments, failure to recognise warning signs (headaches, visual disturbances, upper abdominal pain), and delayed delivery when pre-eclampsia is severe.

Ectopic pregnancy: When the embryo implants outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube. If not diagnosed promptly, the tube can rupture, causing life threatening internal bleeding. Negligence includes dismissing symptoms (one sided pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding, shoulder tip pain) and failure to perform an early ultrasound scan in women presenting with pain and a positive pregnancy test.

Postpartum haemorrhage: Excessive bleeding after delivery. A major cause of maternal death. Negligence includes failure to identify risk factors, delayed recognition of blood loss, and delayed treatment (medication, surgical intervention, blood transfusion). Retained placenta and retained products of conception: Failure to check the placenta is complete after delivery, or failure to diagnose retained tissue causing infection and ongoing bleeding.

Other complications: Gestational diabetes not diagnosed or managed (risking macrosomia and birth complications). Placental abruption not recognised (risking fetal death). Uterine rupture during VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean) without adequate monitoring. Sepsis after childbirth from delayed recognition and treatment of infection. Wrongful birth claims where negligent failure to detect fetal abnormalities denied parents the choice to terminate.

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