Stillbirth & Neonatal Negligence Compensation Claims

A stillbirth is where a baby is born dead after 24 weeks of pregnancy. Approximately 0.5% of pregnancies in the UK end in stillbirth, with the most common causes being issues with the placenta or the mother’s health.

If the baby is lost before the 24-week mark, this is known as a miscarriage or late foetal loss. A neonatal death occurs when a baby dies within its first 28 days of life.

There are many factors that can increase the risk of stillbirth. However, negligent medical care is often a contributory factor behind these tragedies. Every stillbirth is heart-breaking and parents and families involved should always feel able to ask questions of medical staff.

Unacceptable care standards may include:

• Misinterpreting test or scan results: Vital signs can be missed on test and scan results which should have triggered a different course of care and assessment through pregnancy and birth.
• Failures to test during pregnancy: Failing to carry out tests quickly enough, or following health concerns, can mean potentially dangerous situations are not identified and treated quickly enough.
• Foetal movement issues: Reported by a mother but no action is taken by health professionals.
• Blood pressure issues: Blood pressure should be checked regularly during pregnancy to ensure it’s not too high or too low as both are dangerous for mother and baby. Appropriate action should then be taken.
• Failure to refer for appropriate assessment: Particularly important if mother is at a higher risk due to diabetes, obesity or high blood pressure.
• Failure to identify and treat infections: Bacterial vaginosis, chicken pox, chlamydia, parvovirus, flu, hepatitis.
• Inadequate antenatal monitoring: A baby’s development must be checked through regular appointments.
• Placental abruption: If the placenta detaches from the wall of uterus it can prevent baby from getting the nutrients and oxygen needed to survive. Symptoms include abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding and an abnormal foetal heart rate.
• Congenital defects: A birth defect resulting from genetic disorders, exposure to medications, chemicals or infections during pregnancy.
• Reduced oxygen levels to the baby: This can occur in the uterus or during a traumatic or difficult labour.
• Communication issues: During antenatal checks or labour itself, poor communication from medical professionals to parents, or between one another, can lead to the wrong care being provided.
• Failure to ensure safe delivery: Poor decisions over the birth of a baby, such as failing to ensure an assisted delivery or birth by emergency caesarean section.

Stillbirth compensation claims consider the pain and long-term psychological effects you have experienced.

While we know nothing will ever make up for the loss of an infant, a settlement can help you access the specialist services you need to help you cope better, including counselling or therapy costs, whilst costs such as funeral fees can also be recovered.

There is no definitive stillbirth and neonatal compensation amount, as each case depends on a variety of factors, such as the extent of the psychological damage suffered.

Get in touch using our online claim form for a no-obligation chat. We’ll discuss your circumstances and estimate the amount of potential compensation you may be entitled to.

If you’re suffering from the impact of stillbirth, you should seek professional help and legal advice as soon as possible.

Doing this will allow your lawyer to compile and analyse all the evidence, support you and build the strongest case possible.

You’ll usually have three years in which to make a claim.

Your initial consultation is free and confidential, and you don’t have to pursue a case afterwards. We believe this approach allows you to gather all the information you need to make an informed decision at what can be a very difficult time.

Many families affected by a stillbirth just want answers about what’s happened and why. Often parents are seeking reassurance that they could not have done anything differently to avoid the tragic outcome.

Also, many parents want to ensure other families don’t suffer in the same way in future if mistakes have been made by maternity teams, as vital lessons can be learned.

Here at Hudgells, we will be with you every step of the way. From gathering evidence to filing forms at court, we take away the strain of the case and obtain the justice you deserve.