Do you need a lawyer for a uterine rupture in Michigan?

A uterine rupture is most likely to occur if a woman attempts a vaginal delivery after having a prior child by c-section.  Uterine rupture occurs in approximately one in every 67 to 500 women with a low-transverse c-section incision, undergoing a trial of labor for vaginal birth. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2002/0901/p823.html.  

The more c-section deliveries, the higher the risk.  In those cases, the rupture usually occurs at the c-section scar.   

According to a WHO Multicountry Survey on Maternal and Newborn Health, women who have had a prior Cesarean section are at a higher risk of uterine rupture. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5345021/ 

According to the study, risk factors including prior C-section incision, induction of labor, macrosomia (large baby), increased maternal age, delivery after term, short maternal stature, and no prior vaginal delivery.  

In women who have not have a prior C-section, rupture is very rare, occurring only in approximately 1 in 20,000 birth.

These signs and symptoms should alert a healthcare provider that the mother is having a uterine rupture:  

• Sudden pain between contractions or pain at the c-section scar. 
• Slowing contractions.  
• Excessive bleeding.  
• Abnormal abdominal pain. 

• Loss of muscle tone of the uterus.  
• Baby’s heart rate suddenly becomes abnormal.  
• Mother’s heart rate suddenly becomes rapid or her blood pressure drops.  

Uterine rupture is a medical emergency that must be timely diagnosed. Once a uterine rupture is diagnosed, the physician and healthcare team must act quickly to repair the uterus or deliver the baby.  Failure to timely recognize the signs and symptoms of a uterine rupture could result in the baby losing precious oxygen and suffering a severe brain injury that could impact the baby for the rest of her life, or death.  

Uterine rupture can result in serious and potentially deadly complications to the mother including hemorrhagic anemia, infection, injury to bladder, hysterectomy, and death.  

You usually cannot prevent a uterine rupture (but you can decrease the risk by not having a VBAC). However, if there was a delay in diagnosing the rupture, and a delay in repairing the uterus or delivering your baby, you may have a case for medical malpractice.

If you believe that you or your baby suffered an injury because of a uterine rupture due to medical negligence, contact Hoffer & Sheremet. The next steps would typically include the following: 

• Gather and review medical records. 
• Retain expert witnesses. 
• Speak to treatment providers about your prognosis. 

• Interview you and close loved ones regarding the impact the injury has had on your life. 
• Calculate your medical expenses, out of pocket expenses, lost wages, loss of future earnings and other economic damages. 
• Send a demand letter to the hospital and medical providers to attempt pre-suit settlement. 
• Serve a Notice of Intent on the hospital and medical providers. 
• At the expiration of the Notice of Intent waiting period, file the Complaint and Affidavit of Merit to initiate litigation. 

• Conduct discovery. 
• Handle motions, court proceedings, and facilitation. 
• Try the case if there is no settlement.