Retained placenta is a serious postnatal complication that, if not identified and treated promptly, can cause severe bleeding, infection, long-term health consequences, and even be life-threatening. If you have suffered unnecessary or avoidable harm because a medical professional failed to provide the correct standard of care to you post-birth, you may be eligible to claim retained placenta compensation.
Whether the placenta failed to pass after a caesarean or vaginal birth, or the retained placenta symptoms were ignored or mismanaged, our guide is here to help. If you believe you suffered unnecessary harm due to medical failings, speak to our advisors today about making a retained placenta medical negligence claim.
Important Points
-
You may be eligible to make a retained placenta compensation claim if you suffered avoidable harm due to negligent medical care.
-
Medical professionals owe you a duty of care prior to labour, during labour and postpartum. Failing to manage the third stage of labour properly may result in a valid placenta negligence claim.
-
Compensation could include general damages for the harm suffered and special damages for financial losses, such as medical expenses and lost income.
-
A claim must usually be started within 3 years.
-
Our panel of solicitors can help you start a No Win No Fee claim for placenta compensation today.
Contact Us
Our advisors are here to help. Contact a member of our friendly team here at Legal Helpline today to find out if you could claim by:
- Calling us on 0333 0000729
- Contacting us online
- Using the live chat feature
Jump To A Section
- How To Claim For Retained Placenta Compensation
- The Average Compensation Paid For Retained Placenta Negligence
- What Is Meant By Retained Placenta?
- What Will Increase The Risk Of The Placenta Being Retained After Childbirth?
- The Time Limit For Claiming Retained Placenta Compensation
- What Evidence Can I Gather To Support My Retained Placenta Negligence Claim?
- Can I Make A No Win No Fee Retained Placenta Claim?
- More Information
How To Claim For Retained Placenta Compensation
To make a retained placenta claim, your case must meet the legal criteria for a medical negligence claim. These criteria are:
-
A healthcare professional owed you a duty of care.
-
That duty of care was breached.
-
You suffered unnecessary harm as a result.
Whether you gave birth at a hospital or private clinic, all medical professionals owe a duty of care to provide the correct standard of care when treating their patients. This includes doctors, nurses and midwives. They must follow professional standards during labour and the third stage, when the placenta is delivered. If the placenta fails to be delivered fully and the issue is not managed properly, it could lead to complications such as needing a blood transfusion, infection, or surgery.
Our panel of medical negligence solicitors can assess if your case meets these requirements and help you begin your placenta medical negligence claim. Contact us today for free advice.
Retained Placenta After A Caesarean Section
After a caesarean section, healthcare providers are responsible for ensuring that the placenta is fully delivered. Retaining even small pieces of the placenta can lead to complications, including severe bleeding and infection.
Negligence can occur if:
-
Placental tissue over 3cm is left inside the womb.
-
The patient’s concerns are ignored post-surgery.
-
An independent medical expert finds the duty of care was breached.
If you have suffered unnecessary or avoidable harm following a caesarean due to poor management of a retained placenta, you may be eligible to claim compensation.
Retained Placenta After A Vaginal Birth
During a vaginal birth, the third stage typically involves active management to ensure the safe delivery of the placenta. However, in some cases, physiological management may be used, where the placenta is expected to deliver naturally.
Negligence may arise if:
-
Retained placenta symptoms, such as pain, fever or bleeding, are ignored.
-
The placenta adherens or trapped placenta is not identified.
-
Emergency surgery is delayed, worsening your condition.
If you experienced prolonged pain, required further surgery, or suffered from an untreated infection, you may have grounds to claim compensation for retained placenta. Our panel can help determine if medical negligence occurred in your case.
The Average Compensation Paid For Retained Placenta Negligence
How much compensation you could receive depends on the severity of the harm and the impact it has had on your life. General damages compensate for physical pain, emotional trauma and loss of amenity (how the harm has impacted your daily life). This type of compensation is awarded for the direct suffering experienced due to medical negligence.
To help legal professionals calculate general damages, the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) are used as a reference. The JCG is a publication that lists recommended compensation brackets for a wide range of physical and psychological injuries. It takes into account factors such as the severity of the condition, its long-term effects, and the extent of recovery. The table below shows some examples of these brackets, but please note that they are not guaranteed. It’s also important to be aware that the first entry isn’t from the JCG.
| Injury | Compensation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Several instances of severe harm plus special damages | Up to £500,000+ | Several instances of severe harm combined with financial losses ranging from lost earnings to home adjustments and adoption fees. |
| Female Reproductive Injuries (a) | £140,210 to £207,260 | Infertility caused by illness or injury, combined with sexual dysfunction, intense psychological distress such as anxiety and depression, physical pain, and visible scarring. |
| Female Reproductive Injuries (b) | £52,490 to £124,620 | Long-term or permanent sexual dysfunction affecting someone who either already has children or did not plan to have children. |
| Female Reproductive Injuries (c) | £68,440 to £87,070 | Infertility affecting a young person without children, where there are no accompanying issues such as sexual dysfunction or other complicating factors. |
| Female Reproductive Injuries (d) | £21,920 to £44,840 | Infertility in an individual who already has children, with no additional medical issues or sexual dysfunction. However, cases involving notable emotional or psychological impact may be assessed at the higher end of the scale. |
| Female Reproductive Injuries (e) | £8,060 to £22,800 | Infertility where the affected person was not expected to have children—such as due to their age—meaning the condition has less impact on their life circumstances. |
| Severe PTSD | £73,050 to £122,850 | These cases involve long-term or lifelong consequences that stop the individual from returning to work or performing at anything close to their previous capacity. The person’s quality of life will be severely diminished across most areas. |
| Moderately Severe PTSD | £28,250 to £73,050 | Unlike the more severe cases, this category involves a more favourable outlook, with partial recovery expected through professional support. Nevertheless, the individual is still likely to face ongoing, substantial impairments. |
Special damages compensate you for any financial losses or out-of-pocket expenses directly caused by the negligence. This can include:
- Loss of income or future earning potential if you had to take extended time off work
- Costs of private medical treatment, surgery, medication or counselling
- Travel expenses to and from medical appointments
- Costs of any home adaptations or mobility aids
- Care costs, including help from family members or professional carers
- Childcare or domestic help during recovery
To be able to claim special damages, you must provide evidence such as bank statements, payslips and invoices.
Contact our advisors today to discuss the eligibility of your case.
What Is Meant By Retained Placenta?
A retained placenta occurs when the placenta, or parts of it, are not expelled from the womb after delivery. There are different types of retained placenta:
- Placenta Adherens – where the uterus fails to contract enough to expel the placenta.
- Trapped Placenta – when the placenta detaches but cannot exit the uterus.
- Placenta Accreta – when the placenta is abnormally attached to the uterine wall.
These conditions can cause retained placenta symptoms, such as pain, bleeding, and infection. If not treated properly, they can lead to serious harm.
Examples of medical negligence related to retained placenta may include:
- Failing to recognise that the placenta has not been fully delivered within the expected time frame.
- Not performing a manual examination or ultrasound to confirm placental removal.
- Ignoring a patient’s report of symptoms, such as abdominal pain or heavy bleeding post-birth.
- Delaying surgical removal of retained tissue despite clear indicators.
- Misreading scan results that show placental remnants.
- Providing inadequate aftercare following placenta surgery, resulting in infection or complications.
If you believe your condition was mishandled, you may be entitled to retained placenta compensation. Contact our team today to get started.
What Will Increase The Risk Of The Placenta Being Retained After Childbirth?
Certain factors may increase the risk of experiencing a retained placenta, including:
- History of retained placenta in previous births.
- Giving birth prematurely.
- High parity (more than 5 births).
- Placenta accreta or previous uterine surgery.
- Umbilical cord detachment problems.
These risks should be assessed by healthcare professionals during your pregnancy. If your medical records show risk factors were missed or ignored, you may be able to claim retained placenta compensation. Speak to a member of our team today to learn more.
The Time Limit For Claiming Retained Placenta Compensation
Under the Limitation Act 1980, most medical negligence claims must be started within 3 years of:
- The date the negligence occurred, or
- The date you first became aware of it (the date of knowledge)
There are exceptions:
- For children, the time limit starts on their 18th birthday. A litigation friend can claim on their behalf at any time up until then.
- For those lacking mental capacity, the limit is paused indefinitely, unless capacity is regained. A litigation friend can claim on their behalf while the time limit is paused.
Acting quickly ensures you don’t miss the deadline. Our team can help you check if you’re still within the time limit. Contact our advisors today.
What Evidence Can I Gather To Support My Retained Placenta Negligence Claim?
To support your retained placenta negligence claim, you’ll need strong evidence showing that medical negligence occurred. This might include:
- Medical records from your pregnancy and delivery.
- Correspondence with the hospital or clinic.
- An independent medical assessment.
- Test results or ultrasound reports.
- Witness contact details.
- Evidence of medical expenses and lost earnings.
A medical negligence solicitor from our panel can help you compile and present this evidence effectively. Contact us today to learn more, or keep reading to find out how our panel could help you.
Can I Make A No Win No Fee Retained Placenta Claim?
A No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel could help you claim, as they all work under the terms of a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This means:
- No upfront fees for them to begin working on your case.
- No ongoing service fees as the claim progresses.
- No costs to pay for their work if your claim fails.
- You pay a success fee only if your claim is successful; this percentage is taken from your compensation and capped by law.
At Legal Helpline, we understand that suffering from a retained placenta can have devastating physical, emotional, and financial consequences. That’s why our panel of experienced medical negligence solicitors can offer representation under a No Win No Fee agreement, helping to ease the burden during an already difficult time.
From the moment you contact us, we’ll provide you with free advice, a no-obligation assessment of your case, and explain your legal options in clear terms. If your case is accepted, our panel will handle every aspect of your claim—gathering evidence, liaising with independent medical experts, and negotiating to secure the maximum compensation you deserve.
Contact Our Advisors
Our team are here to help. Get in touch today by:
- Calling us on 0333 0000729
- Contacting us online
- Using the live chat feature
More Information
For more helpful medical negligence guides:
- Learn how to claim for a misdiagnosed ACL tear
- Find out how to claim for contraceptive coil negligence
- Get help claiming for leukaemia misdiagnosis
Or, for further resources:
- NHS information on placenta complications
- Professional standards from the Nursing and Midwifery Council
- Information on caesarean section from the NHS
Thank you for reading our guide on retained placenta compensation.
