4 Theatre St, Norwich NR2 1QY
01603 214 220
Birth Injury and Pregnancy
For the majority of women in the UK, pregnancy and childbirth is a happy and positive experience.
However, pregnancy and birth are far from risk-free and things can go wrong for both mother and baby. Our team of birth injury solicitors can help you in these situations.
During pregnancy, mums-to-be are primarily cared for by their GP and midwife, and generally attend hospital only for scans and tests. Complications can arise during pregnancy such as pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes. These should be easily detected through regular midwife appointments. NICE guidelines outline the process for screening for foetal abnormalities, infections and other clinical conditions, as well as what steps to take if foetal growth is outside normal ranges. When these processes are not followed properly or at all, it is possible both mother and baby can suffer irreparable damage.
Birth Injury Compensation
Birth injuries occur when medical experts either fail to follow the correct procedures or they carry them out in a substandard manner. If there is poor care during the delivery of a baby, the consequences can be devastating and, in severe cases, result in a child with cerebral palsy or even death.
Telephone: 01603 214 220
Birth Injury & Pregnancy Solicitors
Brain Injury Compensation
We have acted for several children who have sustained brain injuries at birth because of the mismanagement of the labour and/or delivery. In those cases, the settlements have been for seven-figure sums, which is mainly due to the significant amount of care the child will require throughout its lifetime.
Birth injury claims are one of only a few areas of law where Legal Aid is available to fund claims for compensation, although stringent criteria apply.
Neonatal Death
In rare cases, a child may die as a result of medical negligence during childbirth. This can occur for a wide variety of reasons.
Our team handles cases of neonatal death with sympathy and understanding, helping you seek the compensation to which you may be entitled.
Legal Aid Funding for Compensation Claims
If you believe you or your child suffered an injury during pregnancy or childbirth, we can assist with a claim for compensation and the practical issues that arise when someone has sustained serious injuries.
You may be entitled to Legal Aid if a claim concerns clinical negligence involving children who have suffered severe disability due to a neurological injury sustained during the mother’s pregnancy, the child’s birth or the first eight weeks of the child’s life.
Don’t worry if Legal Aid isn’t available for your case; we will happily explore the funding options available to you.
Read more: Hatch Brenner Solicitors secures a legal aid contract for medical negligence in Norfolk
Our experienced team includes specialist clinical negligence lawyers Sara Westwood.
Examples of birth injury and pregnancy claims:
- Neonatal death
- Cerebral Palsy
- Failed sterilisation
- Shoulder-dystocia delivery
- Failed abortion
- Screening negligence
- Mismanaged delivery
- Forceps delivery negligence
- Stillbirth negligence and neonatal death
- Perineal tears – third and fourth-degree
- Mismanaged pre-eclampsia
- Damage to organs during a caesarean
How we
can help you
Medical Negligence can have a wide range of effects, many of which may not be obvious immediately after an accident. With specialist accreditations with Action Against Medical Accidents (AvMA) and the Law Society, our team has represented victims in a wide range of cases.
To find out more about our expertise, please call:
01603 214 220Contact one of the team:
Sara Westwood
Partner / Head of Dispute Resolution
Specialist Personal Injury Solicitor
Simon Bransby
Chartered Legal Executive
Medical Negligence and Personal Injury
Delivering thought-leading expertise and understanding from our expert solicitors and staff.
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Baby death following failed forceps delivery
My client went into hospital for the birth of her first baby. Labour was progressing slowly and she was reviewed and examined by a junior doctor. He advised she be taken to theatre so the delivery of the baby could be assisted by forceps failing which she would have a caesarean section.
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Deep vein thrombosis following caesarean delivery
Our client had a caesarean section for the delivery of her twins. Prior to the operation her risk of developing a post-operative blood clot was assessed, which is standard practice, however she was wrongly assessed to be at lower risk when in fact she should have been assessed as intermediate risk.
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Unnecessary laparoscopy for dye insufflation and bilateral salpingectomy
The Claimant was a young lady, struggling to become pregnant. She had a pre-planned laparoscopy for dye insufflation and bilateral salpingectomy. This would prevent her becoming pregnant other than with IVF. However, she was actually nine weeks pregnant at the time of surgery, unbeknown to anybody.
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Oxygen deprivation during childbirth
Colin Cook, Partner at Hatch Brenner Solicitors on Theatre Street in Norwich, recently helped a local woman recover a £5.2M settlement following a catastrophic injury sustained in a road traffic accident on the M11.
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Inadequate anaesthetic during a caesarean section
Colin Cook, Partner at Hatch Brenner Solicitors on Theatre Street in Norwich, recently helped a local woman recover a £5.2M settlement following a catastrophic injury sustained in a road traffic accident on the M11.
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Failure to perform an episiotomy during childbirth
Colin Cook, Partner at Hatch Brenner Solicitors on Theatre Street in Norwich, recently helped a local woman recover a £5.2M settlement following a catastrophic injury sustained in a road traffic accident on the M11.
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Delay in delivery resulting in the death of a baby
The Claimant was admitted to hospital, in labour, just over 33 weeks into her third pregnancy. This was considered to be a high-risk pregnancy.
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Baby suffered brain damage during childbirth
Mrs X was admitted to hospital in labour with her first baby just after midnight. She was 10 days past her expected delivery date. A belt was placed on her abdomen so the baby’s heart rate could be monitored. The results showed the baby’s heart rate to be persistently fast. In these circumstances, the monitoring…
