Death of the Mother During Childbirth

Legal advice from Ison Harrison solicitors

Maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes.

Maternal deaths are subdivided into further groups as:

Direct: maternal deaths are those resulting from conditions or complications or their management that are unique to pregnancy, occurring during the antenatal, intrapartum or postpartum periods.

Indirect: maternal deaths are those resulting from previously existing disease, or disease that develops during pregnancy not as the result of direct obstetric causes, but which were aggravated by physiological effects of pregnancy

Thrombosis and thromboembolism remains the leading cause of direct maternal death and cardiac disease the leading cause of indirect maternal deaths.

Other causes are:

• Postpartum bleeding (hemorrhage);
• Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy;
• Postpartum infections

Losing a loved one is difficult in any circumstance, however losing a partner during or shorty after pregnancy can be extremely traumatic. What is expected to be a happy and exciting situation can suddenly change and you may find yourself feeling alone with lots of unanswered questions.

If your partner has passed away in questionable circumstances, contact IsonHarrison to speak to a member of our team, who will deal with your enquiry in a sensitive manner. Call us on 0113 284 5745 or email clinneg@isonharrison.co.uk.