If you are experiencing on-going unpleasant bowel and perineal symptoms after the birth of your baby, it is possible that you have an undiagnosed perineal tear.
Perineal tears
Perineal tears should be diagnosed immediately after the birth of a baby but, in our experience, this can sometimes be missed or the severity of the injury can be misdiagnosed.
If you have recently given birth to a baby with a vaginal birth (i.e. not a caesarean section) you may have suffered damage to your perineum and anus. This means that the skin and muscle between your vagina and anus may have torn due to the pressure from the birth of your baby. If you have been very unlucky, that injury may have extended as far as your anus and caused damage to the anal sphincter muscles as well.
Severe tear symptoms
If you have an undiagnosed or poorly-repaired severe perineal tear, you are likely to be suffering with some or all of the following symptoms:
- Extreme urgency when needing to go to the toilet
- Leakage of faeces (incontinence)
- Inability to prevent the passing of wind
- Infections of the perineum
- Discomfort of the perineum
If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should talk to your GP in case you suffered a severe tear which was either not diagnosed at the time of your baby’s birth, or you may have received an inadequate repair.
The problem with symptoms as disabling as these is that the woman can become restricted in how comfortable she feels about leaving the home, about what types of work she is able to undertake and how far she can travel.
Why do I have these symptoms?
A severe tear, otherwise described as 3rd or 4th degree tears, damages the anal sphincter muscles which control the bowel. If these muscles are injured, the woman may lose the ability to control when she passes wind or faeces.
What can I do about it?
If you have an anal sphincter injury due to the birth of your baby which was not diagnosed and effectively treated at the time it occurred, your medical professionals may be considered to have acted negligently.
If your injury is causing you to experience significant loss (e.g. financial, psychological, independence), it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
Speak to a solicitor
Contact us today to talk to a specialist medical negligence solicitor. We have supported numerous compensation claims for the effects of undiagnosed perineal tears, and will be happy to advise you.
Make A Free Enquiry
If you, or your family member, has suffered a birth injury tear, please call us now for free, no obligation advice on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile click to call 01275 334030) or complete our Free Online Enquiry.