San Antonio Maternal Death Lawyer

Hemorragia post parto

The leading cause of maternal mortality in Texas. Failure to monitor blood loss, recognize hemorrhage risk factors, or intervene surgically in time

Reports of heavy bleeding

Undiagnosed preeclampsia and eclampsia complications

Failure to diagnose high blood pressure, order tests, or transfer pregnant women to a high-risk specialist. Eclampsia can lead to seizures, strokes, or organ failure.

Headaches, vision changes, swelling, and increased pressure readings

Pregnancy and postpartum infections and sepsis

Results from medical professionals’ failure to diagnose and treat infections like UTI, kidney infection, pneumonia, and chorioamnionitis during pregnancy, labor, delivery, miscarriage, or other pregnancy-related complications. Nre can lead to retained tissue, uterine, perineal wound, and C-section infections. Both are serious complications that progress to sepsis when untreated.

Fever, chills, burning while urinating, stomach or back pain, discharge odor, confusion, elevated heart rate, heavy bleeding, redness or drainage, and weakness

Desprendimiento de la placenta

Premature separation of the placenta, not promptly identified or treated, delays emergency delivery

Vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, and uterine rigidity that aren’t escalated

Delayed C-section and surgery complications

Delay in delivering when emergency signs show the mother needs immediate surgical intervention.

Severe bleeding, abdominal pain, placental abruption, uterine rupture, maternal distress, or negligent response to abnormal monitoring

Blood clots and pulmonary embolism

Failure to assess DVT risk, prescribe anticoagulant prophylaxis, or recognize signs of a blood clot in postpartum care.

Leg pain, swelling, shortness of breath

Placenta accreta, increta, and percreta

Healthcare providers failing to recognize risk factors, like prior c-sections, uterine surgery or scarring, placenta previa, multiple prior pregnancies, advanced maternal age, IVF, and endometrial ablation, or prepare for high-risk or pre-existing conditions.

Symptoms include third-trimester bleeding, bladder or pelvic pain, or blood in the urine.

Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE)

Amniotic fluid enters the mother’s bloodstream, triggering a reaction that can result in fatal cardiovascular conditions and postpartum hemorrhage. Immediate resuscitation is necessary.

Survival depends entirely on timely intervention.

Ectopic pregnancy

Occurs when healthcare providers miss a pregnancy implanted outside the uterus before a rupture. Ectopic pregnancy hemorrhage is nearly always survivable with a timely diagnosis.

Shoulder or pelvic pain, rising hCG with an empty uterus, or vaginal bleeding

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)

Delayed diagnosis or treatment of placental abruption, severe hemorrhage, eclampsia, sepsis, or retained placental tissue.

Severe bleeding, oozing from IV/incision sites, bruising, falling blood pressure, rapid heart rate, weakness, confusion, and more.

Ruptura uterina

Failure to monitor labor progression, excessive use of labor-inducing drugs, or not performing a timely C-section in VBAC patients.

Severe pain, shock or collapse, heavy bleeding, loss of blood pressure, signs of distress in the mother

HELLP syndrome

A life-threatening complication involving liver damage and platelet destruction. HELLP is often misdiagnosed as flu, heartburn, and anxiety.

Nausea, upper right stomach pain, and overall “not feeling well.”

Postpartum depression (PPD) and suicide

~27% of maternal deaths in Texas are due to suicide and homicide. When healthcare providers don’t screen for or treat postpartum depression, psychosis, or anxiety, they can be held responsible.

Expressed distress, hopelessness, mood changes, or concerning behavior were ignored during postpartum care, with no mental health referral made

Peripartum cardiomyopathy

A form of heart failure developing late in pregnancy or after birth. Peripartum cardiomyopathy is often mistaken as “part of being a “new mother.”

Shortness of breath, swelling in the legs, fatigue, chest discomfort, and palpitations

Gestational diabetes complications

Uncontrolled blood sugar leading to macrosomia, eclampsia, or cardiovascular events

Missed screening or failure to manage after diagnosis

Errores epidurales y otra errores de anestesia

Oxygen deprivation during epidural or general anesthesia. Medication errors in dosage, intubation failure, or not monitoring oxygen levels.

Loss of consciousness, respiratory depression, or cardiac changes during or after anesthesia administration

Ectopic pregnancy

A pregnancy implanted outside the uterus that stops growing, doesn’t pass on its own, and causes infection, DIC, sepsis, and death. Some grow and rupture, causing death.

1

Cardiovascular conditions

Heart disease, peripartum cardiomyopathy, and undiagnosed medical conditions, where the physical demands of being pregnant kill the mother.

Any

Preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome

Dangerously high blood pressure that can escalate to strokes, brain, kidney, or liver damage before childbirth.

2 (after 20 weeks)

Ataque

Bleeding in or around the brain is triggered by high blood pressure, blood clot disorders, or cerebral venous thrombosis.

Any

Blood clots and pulmonary embolism

A clot (typically in the lungs) that cuts off blood flow and oxygen. Risk rises with each trimester.

Any

Sepsis during pregnancy

Bacterial infection from a urinary tract infection, appendicitis, or chorioamnionitis that escalates to septic shock before childbirth.

Any

Placenta previa hemorrhage

Abnormal placental positioning that causes severe bleeding before childbirth.

3

Gestational diabetes complications

Unmanaged blood sugar causes cardiovascular events, severe preeclampsia, or organ failure before childbirth.

2 or 3

Trauma and injury

Vehicle accidents, falls, and domestic violence are all common causes of death in pregnant women.

Any

Pregnant Black Women

Pregnant White Women

Early prenatal care

73%

84%

Early childbirth

15%

11%

Underweight babies

14%

8%