Content Reviewed by:
Dov Apfel
Content Reviewed by: Dov Apfel
Since 1979, Dov Apfel has been passionate about advocating for birth injury and medical malpractice victims. Mr. Apfel’s career-long record of achievements in birth injury litigation, education, and advocacy has been recognized by the Executive Board of the Birth Trauma Litigation Group of the American Association for Justice. His expertise is demonstrated by his numerous awards, presentations on birth injury topics at legal conferences for organizations like the AAJ and ATLA, and articles published by Trial Magazine and many others.
Childbirth Injuries Related to Unnecessary Episiotomy
Episiotomies can create lasting injuries and make sexual intercourse painful, if not impossible, and prevent women from wanting to have more children with worries about another childbirth. And while episiotomy rates are dropping in the U.S. due to these known risks, some doctors are still routinely performing them.
The American Pregnancy Association identifies these situations in which an episiotomy may be needed but not always necessary:
- Birth is imminent, and the perineum hasn’t had time to stretch slowly
- The baby’s head is too large for the vaginal opening
- The baby is in distress
- The mother needs a forceps or vacuum-assisted delivery
- The baby is in a breech presentation, and there is a complication during delivery
- The mother isn’t able to control her pushing
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists urges doctors to perform episiotomies only when it is medically necessary rather than convenient. An incision in the perineum may not help women deliver and heal faster and can instead be the cause irreversible damage and physical pain and emotional turmoil. Episiotomy complications and side effects can include:
- Infection
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Bleeding
- Extended healing time
- Long-lasting painful scarring
- Discomfort during sexual intercourse
- PTSD, anxiety and depression
- Prevention or delay in future pregnancies
- Fear of vaginal deliveries putting mother’s at unnecessary risk for C-section injuries
Episiotomy also increases the risk of more significant tears, specifically third- and fourth-degree tears, into the rectum’s muscle and through the rectum. In some cases, multiple surgeries will be necessary to repair the damaged area.
Chicago Birth Injury Attorneys Seeking Justice for Women Like You
For decades, our attorneys have represented women and children with injuries sustained during childbirth. Likewise, the attorneys at Levin & Perconti have spent their careers serving not only as legal counsel but as compassionate listeners and fierce advocates and mentors for women, many of them parents themselves. Our team can be relied on to work for you to find answers, settle disputes, and earn you compensation for economic losses, physical and emotional loss of quality of life, and maternal injuries caused during childbirth.
Know that you are not alone. We are here to help you get the healing you deserve.
Chicago’s Birth Injury Attorneys for Mother and Baby
The Illinois birth injury attorneys at Levin & Perconti have taken on every role in life and are uniquely positioned to understand childbirth-related worries and the sensitive needs of postpartum women. We can be relied on to find answers, settle disputes, and earn you compensation for economic losses causes by your injuries, physical and emotional damage to your quality of life, and even the lost life of a child or mother. When you are ready to talk about your legal options and need someone to listen, please do not hesitate to call us in Chicago at 312-332-2872 or toll-free at 877-374-1417.
