If your perineal tear was not stitched properly after birth, you could be entitled to pursue a medical negligence compensation claim for the damages you have wrongfully incurred. Please contact us to find out more.
Stitching tears after birth
Perineal tears are a normal part of vaginal births. Some women will not sustain a tear at all, some will sustain a relatively minor injury (called a 1st or 2nd degree tear), while some will sustain a severe injury (called a 3rd or 4th degree tear).
After the birth, a midwife or doctor should examine the patient to determine whether a tear is present, and if so, the type of tear that has been suffered.
A repair should then be carried out, the nature of which will depend upon the type of injury. A 1st or 2nd degree tear can be repaired by a midwife in the delivery suite, while a 3rd or 4th degree tear must be repaired by an experienced surgeon in theatre.
I was not properly stitched after birth
However, some patients will be discharged from hospital, only to discover at a later date that their tear was not properly stitched after the birth. This may happen for a number of reasons, including the following:
- The tear was completely missed by medical practitioners because an examination was not performed after the birth
- The tear was completely missed by medical practitioners, even though an examination was performed after the birth
- The tear was diagnosed as a more minor tear so the full length of the injury was not stitched – for example, a third degree tear was mistaken for a second degree tear
- The correct type of tear was diagnosed, but an incompetent repair was performed
What action should I take for a tear not properly stitched?
If your tear has not been stitched properly after birth, the first step is to seek expert medical advice. It is very difficult to repair a perineal injury when there has been a delay.
Nevertheless, there may be certain treatments that can be trialled, such as physiotherapy and sacral nerve stimulation. Some patients may even be able to have a surgical repair. You should ask your GP to refer you to a consultant gynaecologist and/or a consultant colorectal surgeon.
The next step is to talk to a specialist solicitor about the care you received. Failing to stitch a tear properly after birth will be considered negligent. If this has caused you unnecessary suffering, you could be entitled to claim compensation. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us today.
