Mother suffered uterine rupture
Our client was pregnant with her third child and was booked for consultant-led antenatal care at the hospital. She had previously had a caesarean section and was concerned about delivery. She did not receive any written information or discussion about the risks of a vaginal birth following a c-section.
The Mother attended the labour and delivery ward. Signs of uterine rupture were ignored during labour, including her complaints of pain which was not eased by epidural top ups and Entonox. She had a tense uterus and pushing was ineffective. Her contractions stopped.
There was a failure to proceed to an emergency caesarean section when the baby’s heartbeat could not be located. She was given instead increasing doses of oxytocin to stimulate the uterus. This failed to progress the birth. A doctor finally suspected uterine rupture and ordered an emergency caesarean section.
During the operation the uterus was found to have ruptured completely. The baby was outside the uterus in the mother’s abdominal cavity and had died. The mother required a hysterectomy and was then unable to have further children.
This incredibly sad case is not an isolated one. Uterine rupture affects about 22 to 50 per 10,000 (0.2% to 0.5%) of women attempting vaginal birth after a previous caesarean delivery (scarred uterus).
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