Maternal Mortality - Our Philadelphia Birth Injury Lawyers Discuss

Preparing to have a baby should be an exciting time, not a time of stress. However, this can be difficult to master when hearing about all of the potential birth injuries, birth defects, and types of medical malpractice that have affected babies and mothers on a national scale.

As Philadelphia birth injury lawyers, we understand that most expectant parents don’t even want to think about this information. But the unfortunate reality is that these devastating tragedies do happen. Staying informed, aware, and up-to-date on recent studies and news relating to these matters can help expectant parents prepare for a safe delivery of their child.

Maternal Mortality & Injury Facts

The New England Journal of Medicine recently published an article that addresses the question of whether progress is being made in regards to maternal mortality. According to the article, the number of women who die during pregnancy or childbirth has dropped globally by over one third since 1990, with almost 550,000 fatalities in that year to about 350,000 in 2008.

However, the progress in maternal mortality has been irregular, with some countries seeing noteworthy improvements and others seeing significant increases. For every woman who dies from a pregnancy-related cause, it is projected that 20 more (about seven million women annually) suffer injury, infection, disease, or disability.

In the United States, a woman’s risk of pregnancy-related death is one in 2,100, which is greater than in other parts of the world. However, the article mentions that, no matter where a woman lives, the main problems that lead to death during pregnancy or childbirth is rather common among all women.

The main cause of death on a global scale responsible for 35% of all maternal deaths is hemorrhage, which typically occurs right after delivery. In the U.S., postpartum hemorrhage requiring blood transfusion is the most common childbirth-related complication involving bodily harm.

Medical Malpractice & Maternal Injury During Childbirth

It is the responsibility of all medical professionals to ensure that any complications during pregnancy or childbirth are timely diagnosed and treated to ensure vital safety and wellbeing for a woman and her baby. If you or a family member has recently suffered an injury during pregnancy or childbirth and believe that medical malpractice was the cause, a Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorney at The Beasley Firm is here to help. Call for a free, no-risk consultation today.