Retained placenta claims can arise in cases where your placenta has been retained as a result of negligent medical treatment. The placenta is a temporary organ which develops in the uterus during pregnancy. It provides the unborn baby with oxygen and nutrients, and is usually delivered after birth. 

A retained placenta can occur when the placenta fails to detach from the uterine walls within the typical timeframe, which is usually within the first 30 to 60 minutes after birth. It is important to note that not all retained placentas or retained products of conception (RPOC) are caused by negligence. It isn’t uncommon for small fragments of tissue to remain in the womb following a vaginal birth, and this mightn’t amount to negligence, especially if the tissue remaining does not cause any complications.

We explore further in our guide what constitutes medical negligence, so if you’re unsure whether you experienced a retained placenta due to negligent medical treatment, you can contact us today, where our advisors will be happy to explore this with you. 

The Three Types Of Retained Placenta

The three types of retained placenta are:

• Placenta adherens – this occurs when the uterus fails to properly contract after birth, meaning the placenta remains attached to the uterine wall. 
• Trapped placenta – this can happen if the placenta detaches from the uterine wall, but gets stuck as the cervix closes before it can be expelled.
• Placenta accreta – this can occur if the placenta abnormally attaches itself to the uterine wall. This could result in a blood transfusion or hysterectomy if severe.

If not promptly diagnosed and treated, a retained placenta can lead to blood loss and severe infections that are life-threatening. They may also need surgery, including a possible hysterectomy.

Continue reading this guide to learn more about retained placenta claims. You can also contact our advisors to discuss your case.

When determining the average payout for retained placenta claims, two heads of claim are taken into consideration: general and special damages.

Your general damages are compensation for the intangible losses caused by the harm you have suffered. This can include:

• Pain
• Suffering
• Loss of amenity – if your day-to-day life has been impacted

When your general damages are being valued, the professionals can consider documents such as the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), which is a document containing compensation guidelines for different illnesses and injuries.

The table below features some of these guidelines. Please note, however, these are not a guarantee of compensation, and the top entry has not been taken from the JCG. 

Special Damages 

Your special damages, however, are a head of loss with the aim of compensating you for the financial losses caused by your harm. In order to claim this as part of your compensation, you must have evidence which proves these financial losses. 

Your evidence could be:

• Payslips to show a loss of earnings
• Receipts from travel costs
• Invoices for medical care, such as private care to receive an operation if waiting lists on the NHS are too long
• Childcare costs if you are unable to care for your baby or other children

Our solicitors could help you in compiling this evidence to support your claim. Get in touch with us today to learn more about how to claim for special damages.

If a retained placenta remains untreated, it can lead to a range of life-threatening issues such as:

• The development of an infection, such as sepsis, which can be fatal if not treated quickly
• Heavy bleeding or clots coming from the vagina 
• Nausea, high temperature and vomiting

As per a medical professional’s duty of care, they should notice the risk factors and remove the retained placenta at the earliest time. Failure to do so can result in organ failure in severe cases, and failing to remove the placenta at the earliest stage would amount to negligence.

To see if you could make a compensation claim for the complications you have suffered due to a retained placenta, you can contact our advisory team to discuss your case.

The time limit which applies to retained placenta claims is 3 years, as established under the Limitation Act 1980.

This 3-year time limit in medical negligence claims runs from either:

• The date of the medical treatment 
• The date you realised that the harm you suffered was caused by neglgient medical treatment

This is because the date of knowledge could be later than the date you received treatment. 

There are, however, 2 exceptions to this limitation period:

1. Claimants who are under 18 at the time of the harm occurring will have 3 years from the date of their 18th birthday to start their claim
2. Those who are lacking the mental capacity will have 3 years from the date of their recovery to begin their claim (if a full recovery is possible).

In these cases, you could claim on behalf of a loved one who is unable to make their own claim by applying to become a litigation friend.

It is imperative that your claim is started within the time limits, as it might become time-barred if not.

To find out whether your claim would still fall within the time limit, contact us today.

In order to prove that your retained placenta was a result of negligence, you will need evidence which will help to prove irrefutably that medical negligence took place.

Your evidence could be comprised of documents such as:

• Medical or GP records, to show any known allergies, prescriptions or diagnoses.
• Medical evidence or birth documents to show any treatments you received, or any further surgeries, which might highlight how your placenta was retained.
• Contact details of anyone who might’ve witnessed the substandard care, so we can gather a witness statement at a later stage 
• A diary of your symptoms to outline the pain and suffering felt due to the negligent treatment. 

Please don’t worry if you haven’t got these documents compiled, as one of our experienced solicitors will be happy to help gather this evidence with you. We understand it can feel daunting to start your claim, which is why our solicitors are committed to ensuring that you feel supported throughout the process.

Contact us today to learn more about what evidence could be useful in your retained placenta claim. You can also continue reading this guide to learn more about how one of our solicitors could help you.

Here at JF Law, we understand that suffering a retained placenta due to negligent medical care can have lifelong impacts. It may have left you unable to work or enjoy your life as you once did. That’s why we are committed to achieving a settlement that accurately represents the amount of pain, suffering and financial loss caused by the harm you suffered.

By choosing to work with us, you can expect:

• Regular updates on the progress of your claim 
• Decades of specialist experience
• Clear and concise explanations of legal terminology 
• Help with gathering supporting evidence 
• Working closely with you to develop a rehabilitation plan 

As well as this, our solicitors work on a No Win No Fee basis, through the use of a Conditional Fee Agreement. This could be beneficial as it means you wouldn’t have any upfront solicitor fees, or any service fees as your claim progresses. Another benefit of a CFA is that if your claim is unsuccessful, you wouldn’t be required to pay a penny in our solicitor’s fees.

However, if your claim were successful, a small fee would be taken from your compensation to cover the costs of your solicitor. This fee is limited under the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013 to ensure that you receive the majority of your compensation.

These aren’t the only benefits of working with our solicitors at JF Law, as they are committed to supporting you through every stage of your claims process. 

Contact Our No Win No Fee Medical Negligence Solicitors

To learn more about how our retained placenta claims solicitors could help you ,or to discuss your particualr case you can contact one of our advisors.

To get in contact with our friendly advisors, you can:

• Call us on 0151 375 9916
• Fill out our online claim form 

Below, we discuss the most commonly asked questions about retained placenta claims:

How Will A Retained Placenta Be Diagnosed?

A retained placenta can be diagnosed through various procedures. First and foremost, the medical professionals can visually assess whether any of the placenta is missing. They could then assess any symptoms you might be experiencing, such as heavy vaginal bleeding or pain and cramping in the uterus. 

If, after both of these inspections, they are still unsure whether you are experiencing a retained placenta, they can arrange an ultrasound scan, which can visually show any remaining tissue from the placenta. 

What Are The Retained Placenta Treatment Options?

There are a few main treatment options for a retained placenta, which are:

• Manual removal of placenta – this is where a doctor or nurse manually detaches the placenta and removes any remaining tissue. They can administer antibiotics to prevent infection and might provide anaesthesia to help with the pain. 
• Administering antibiotics – oxytocin can be used to help the uterus contract, which can help expel the remaining placenta. 
• Uterine curettage – this is a surgical procedure whereby a specialised instrument is used to scrape the walls of the uterus to ensure any remaining placental tissue is removed. 

What Actions Should Be Taken To Prevent Retained Placenta?

Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee to prevention of a retained placenta; however, medical professionals can look for early risk signs or identifiers to signal that a retained placenta could be a potential issue. 

Can I Have Another Baby After Retained Placenta?

Yes, you can have another baby after experiencing a retained placenta. It is a known risk factor and may indicate a risk of experiencing another retained placenta, but it doesn’t guarantee this.