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Retained Placenta Malpractice Lawyer
Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati Birth Injury Attorneys for Retained Placenta Malpractice Claims
A retained placenta after childbirth can lead to severe complications that put a mother’s health at risk, especially when medical professionals fail to act quickly. If you or a loved one suffered from a retained placenta due to substandard care, TLF: The Medical Injury Law Firm is here to help. Serving Northern Kentucky and Southwest Ohio, our legal team understands the physical, emotional, and financial toll caused by medical negligence during labor and delivery.
A retained placenta negligence claim may allow you to seek compensation for a retained placenta, covering medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We will review your case, gather medical records, and work to hold negligent healthcare providers accountable.
Call (800) 698-4054 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a Covington, KY or Cincinnati, OH medical malpractice lawyer on our team today.
What Happens to the Placenta After Birth?
Around 30 minutes after a baby is born, the body goes through the third stage of labor. This stage involves delivering the placenta, an organ that supplies oxygen and nutrients to the baby inside the womb.
The entire placenta normally detaches from the uterine wall and is naturally expelled. This process is assisted by uterine contractions, which help push out the placental tissue. Usually, a healthcare professional will gently apply pressure and pull on the umbilical cord to encourage delivery.
Once delivered, doctors must carefully check that the placenta is fully delivered and that no parts remain inside the uterus. If any placental tissue is left behind, it can cause serious harm.
What Happens if the Placenta Doesn’t Come Out?
If the placenta is not naturally delivered within a certain timeframe after birth, it is known as a retained placenta. This can lead to severe bleeding, infection, and other complications for the mother.
There are different types of retained placenta, including placenta adherens, where the placenta remains loosely attached, and placenta accreta, where it grows too deeply into the uterine lining. A trapped placenta involves the cervix closing too soon, preventing it from being expelled.
When a retained placenta occurs, immediate treatment is necessary to prevent life-threatening bleeding or infections. In some cases, surgical removal or a blood transfusion may be required.
If medical professionals fail to recognize or properly treat this condition, it may be grounds for a retained placenta negligence claim. A Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky labor and delivery malpractice attorney at TLF can work to help victims claim retained placenta compensation for medical costs, pain, and suffering.
What is a Retained Placenta?
A retained placenta is a condition in which the entire placenta or part of the placenta tissue stays inside the uterus after childbirth. This can happen if the placenta remains attached to the uterine wall, becomes trapped in the cervix, or grows too deeply into the uterine lining.
A retained placenta can quickly become a critical condition, causing severe bleeding, infection, and other serious complications. In many cases, a doctor must intervene to remove the remaining placenta tissue. If a healthcare provider fails to treat the condition properly, it may lead to long-term health risks, and a retained placenta negligence claim may be necessary.
Below are the different types of retained placenta and how they affect the body:
Placenta Adherens
Placenta adherens happens when the placenta fails to separate from the uterine wall and remains loosely attached. This is the most common type of retained placenta and is often caused by weak uterine contractions.
When contractions are not strong enough to push the placenta tissue out, a doctor may need to apply pressure to the abdomen or use other medical techniques to encourage the placenta to be fully delivered.
When a retained placenta is not treated properly, the condition can lead to postpartum hemorrhage. If a doctor does not take the right steps to prevent complications, you may have grounds for a retained placenta malpractice claim.
Trapped Placenta
A trapped placenta happens when the placenta detaches from the uterine lining but gets stuck in the cervix, making it impossible for the body to push it out after childbirth. This can happen if the cervix closes too quickly after birth. If not treated right away, a trapped placenta can cause excessive bleeding, infection, and other serious complications.
If you or a loved one suffered from a trapped placenta due to medical negligence, you may be able to file a retained placenta compensation claim. A medical malpractice lawyer can help you recover money for medical expenses, pain, and suffering caused by improper care.
Placenta Accreta, Increta, or Percreta
Placenta accreta, increta, and percreta are more serious conditions, where the placenta attaches too firmly to the uterine lining or grows into the uterine wall.
In placenta accreta, the placenta is attached more deeply than normal. Placenta increta means the placenta has grown into the muscle of the uterus, while placenta percreta is the most severe form, where the placenta grows through the entire uterus and can even reach nearby organs.
Retained placentas can lead to life-threatening bleeding and may require surgical removal, possible hysterectomy, or blood transfusion. If a doctor fails to diagnose or treat the condition on time, it may be grounds for a retained placenta medical negligence claim. Our failure to diagnose lawyers in Kentucky and Ohio can help hold negligent medical providers accountable and fight for the financial compensation you deserve.
What Causes Retained Placenta?
A retained placenta can occur for various reasons. Some factors that may cause this condition include:
- Premature delivery of the placenta
- If the placenta tries to come out too early, it may not detach properly, leaving placenta tissue behind.
- Uterine atony (failure of the uterus to contract)
- The uterus needs to contract to push out the entire placenta. If it doesn’t, the placenta may stay attached to the uterine wall.
- Previous uterine surgery or scarring
- Scarring from a previous C-section or surgery can make it harder for the placenta to detach naturally after birth.
- Placenta previa or abnormal placental attachment
- If the placenta is too low in the uterus (placenta previa) or has grown too deeply into the uterine lining, it may not separate properly.
- Short umbilical cord
- A shorter umbilical cord may prevent the placenta from being expelled, increasing the risk of a trapped placenta.
How Common is Retained Placenta?
A retained placenta happens in about 1–3% of deliveries, according to the International Journal of Women’s Health. While this may seem rare, it is still a serious condition that can lead to life-threatening complications if not treated quickly. When a healthcare provider does not immediately recognize or treat the condition, the patient may suffer unnecessary harm.
If this happened to you or someone you love, a retained placenta compensation claim may help recover damages for medical expenses and other losses.
How Long Can You Have Retained Placenta?
If the placenta, either fully or partially, stays in the uterus for more than 30 to 60 minutes after childbirth, it is considered a retained placenta. This condition continues until all placenta tissue is removed. If any part of the placenta remains inside the body for several days or longer, it can lead to a serious uterine infection, causing symptoms like fever, pain, and excessive bleeding.
Retained Placenta Symptoms
Symptoms of a retained placenta can appear shortly after childbirth or develop over time if placenta tissue remains in the uterus. Common signs include:
- Heavy or prolonged bleeding
- Severe cramping or pain
- Foul-smelling discharge
- Fever and chills
- Delayed milk production
- Feeling weak or dizzy
If you experienced these symptoms and a healthcare provider did not properly diagnose or treat your condition, you may have a valid claim for retained placenta medical negligence. Here at TLF: The Medical Injury Law Firm, our Covington and Cincinnati physician malpractice lawyers can help you file a claim and seek justice for the harm you have suffered.
The Dangers of a Retained Placenta
- Immediate Risks
- Postpartum hemorrhage
- Infection (endometritis, sepsis)
- Uterine rupture
- Long-Term Consequences
- Infertility or pregnancy complications
- Uterine damage
- Emotional trauma
Is Retained Placenta Malpractice?
A retained placenta is considered to be medical malpractice when a healthcare provider fails to properly diagnose, treat, or manage the condition, leading to serious harm. While not every case is caused by medical negligence, things like hospital mistakes, surgical errors, and substandard care can put a mother’s health at risk.
Here are some situations where a medical negligence claim may be necessary:
- Failure to Diagnose: Medical professionals must recognize the signs of a retained placenta. If warning signs are ignored, the condition can worsen.
- Failure to Remove the Placenta Safely: If doctors use improper techniques to remove a retained placenta, they can cause long-term damage to the uterus.
- Delayed or Inadequate Treatment: Quick action is necessary to prevent severe bleeding and infection. If a healthcare provider does not act fast enough, it can lead to dangerous complications.
- Surgical Errors: Unnecessary or poorly performed procedures to remove the placenta can cause lasting uterine damage.
- Lack of Monitoring and Follow-Up Care: Patients should not be sent home without confirming that the entire placenta has been expelled. If doctors fail to provide follow-up care and a patient experiences symptoms, it could be a sign of medical negligence.
If you have suffered as a result of improper care, a medical malpractice lawyer from TLF can help you seek financial recovery through a retained placenta compensation claim.
Can You Sue for Retained Placenta?
Yes, you can sue for a retained placenta if a healthcare provider acts with negligence or fails to act entirely.
Medical professionals have a duty to monitor patients after childbirth and act quickly if the placenta tissue is not fully delivered. If their negligence caused severe bleeding, infection, or even death, they may be held responsible. A Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati wrongful death lawyer can help families who have lost a loved one due to retained placenta medical negligence.
Those who suffered complications may also be able to claim compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To build a strong case, it is important to collect evidence, such as ultrasound scans, medical records, and witness statements.
If you believe improper medical care caused your retained placenta injury, our medical malpractice attorneys can help you explore your legal options.
Helping Families in Ohio and Kentucky Pursue Justice For Retained Placenta Injuries and Maternal Deaths
We understand how devastating retained placenta injuries can be for mothers and their families. Our law firm handles cases of retained placenta medical negligence and is committed to helping victims recover the compensation they deserve.
A Cincinnati and Covington personal injury attorney from our team will fight to hold negligent doctors, nurses, or hospitals accountable for their actions. We take retained placenta claims seriously and work tirelessly to support families through this difficult time.
If you or a loved one suffered due to improper medical care, we are here to help. Our medical malpractice cases are handled with dedication, and we offer a no-obligation consultation to discuss your legal options without a financial commitment.
If You or a Loved One Experienced Retained Placenta Medical Negligence, Call TLF Today
No one should have to deal with the challenges of retained placenta medical negligence alone. At TLF: The Medical Injury Law Firm, we are dedicated to helping clients throughout Northern Kentucky and Southwest Ohio, seek the maximum compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, ongoing treatments, and pain and suffering. Our experienced legal team will help you file a retained placenta negligence claim and fight for justice on your behalf.
You deserve answers and justice, and we are here to help. We offer a free case evaluation to review your situation and explain your rights. There is no risk in reaching out—just the opportunity to get the justice and financial recovery you need.
Call (800) 698-4054 or contact us online to speak with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer today.
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