Post-Partum Hemorrhage

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) or hemorrhage after delivery is determined by blood loss greater than 500cc following a vaginal delivery or 1,000cc of blood loss after a cesarean section (C-section). It is the most common cause of maternal death in pregnant women. Any woman who carries a pregnancy past 20 weeks gestation is at risk of developing PPH. If doctors do not attentively monitor the woman's condition and immediately treat postpartum hemorrhage, serious conditions and even death could result. If you or a loved one have been harmed by inadequate medical attention during postpartum hemorrhage, you could be eligible to pursue just compensation. The Beasley Firm is known throughout Pennsylvania and across the nation for securing two of the highest verdicts in medical malpractice history. In addition, the firm has secured over $2 billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of their clients.

Our Philadelphia birth injury lawyers can caringly guide you through this time and fight for the justice you deserve. Call (215) 866-2424 to discuss your case.

Risk Factors for Postpartum Hemorrhage

Routine care in the postpartum period or after delivery should include very close observation and assessment of the mother's blood pressure, condition, color, blood loss, uterine tone and uterine size. If a postpartum hemorrhage is not diagnosed and treated right away, the mother can bleed to death. Pregnant women at a higher risk of extensive blood loss after labor and delivery may have the following:

• Retained placenta
• Failure to progress
• Large for gestational age (LGA) baby
• Placenta accrete
• Forcep or vacuum delivery
• Lacerations
• Induced labor
• Pitocin use
• Newborn with hypertensive disorders

If these symptoms or circumstances are present, the doctor should carefully monitor the mother for signs of hemorrhage. Any lapse in judgement or slow response could be detrimental and even fatal. Our team of experienced nurses and medical professionals can lend insight to the specific circumstances surrounding your case. They have personally witnessed hundreds of births and dealt with numerous similar circumstances. You can trust our case approach to be thorough and well-rounded.

Causes of Postpartum Hemorrhage

If the mother's blood work shows that there is a coagulation or clotting disorder, there may be an underlying problem such as placental abruption, fatty liver of pregnancy, HELLP syndrome, amniotic fluid embolus, sepsis, or infection that needs to be diagnosed and treated right away. The common causes of PPH are referred to as the "four T's:

• Tone or uterine atony is when the uterus is unable to contract or tighten up and there is continuous bleeding. A retained placenta or an infection are the most common causes of uterine atony or a boggy uterus after delivery.
• Trauma to the uterus, cervix, vagina, labia or clitoris can lead to significant bleeding in a pregnant woman due to the increased blood supply to those areas.
• Tissue or the retention of the placenta or other products of conception can inhibit the uterus from contracting and cause ongoing bleeding.
• Thrombin or a bleeding disorder is when there is a failure of the blood to clot after delivery.

If the mother isn't treated right away, she can develop disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) that can lead to a lack of oxygen to the body's tissues and organ damage or failure.

Immediate Treatment for Postpartum Hemorrhage

If the nurse or obstetrician suspects that a mother's uterus is not tightening up after delivery, they may try to massage the uterus to stimulate it to contract. If that does not help slow down the bleeding, Pitocin, oxytocin or Misoprostol may be given intravenously. If the bleeding continues, IV fluids and blood products should be administered. If the bleeding is unable to be controlled with uterine massage and medications, the mother may have to undergo a uterine artery ligation, ovarian artery ligation, internal iliac artery ligation, or hysterectomy to control the bleeding and stop the hemorrhage.

Caring Philadelphia Birth Injury Attorneys Ready to Help

Not all postpartum hemorrhages are preventable, but when they do occur, nurses and doctors need to quickly diagnose and treat the cause of the bleeding. If there is a delay in diagnosing and treating the PPH, it can lead to shock,  brain damage or hypoxia, organ failure, or even death. At The Beasley Firm, we are dedicated to representing clients who have endured serious injuries or losses due to another's negligence. Our consistency and history of success in recovering billions of dollars since 1958 has set our firm apart. More than just recoveries, we are known for our open communication, dedication to excellence and expertise, around-the-clock availability, and overall commitment to our clients. You can trust our Philadelphia birth injury attorneys to pursue justice on your behalf.

Begin your journey to just compensation by calling The Beasley Firm at (215) 866-2424.