Stillbirth Compensation Claims

What is a stillbirth?

One of the most heart-breaking things that can happen to an expecting mother and family is a stillbirth. A stillbirth is defined as a baby being born dead after 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Can I make a stillbirth compensation claim?

Stillbirth can happen naturally, which is heart-breaking for anyone.

But sometimes, a stillbirth can be caused by medical negligence, and this is where you could claim for your loss.

There are several reasons why stillbirths could happen. According to the NHS, the main reasons include:

• An infection that the mother has and passes it on to the baby

This can include sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia, or even the common flu.

• Any defects to your child

This includes any genetic or physical defects in your child.

• Bleeding

Any bleeding that happens during or after your birth.

• Complications with the placenta

Many stillbirths are often linked to complications with the placenta. The placenta connects the mother’s blood supply to the child to provide nourishment. If this stops then the baby could get into difficulty.

• Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy (ICP)

ICP is a condition of the liver which causes severe itching during pregnancy.

• Placental abruption

This is where the placenta becomes separated from the womb before the baby is born.

• Pre-eclampsia

A condition that causes high blood pressure in the mother.

• Pre-existing diabetes

If you already have diabetes, this can affect your baby.

• Umbilical cord issues

Due to the umbilical cord being attached to the baby via its belly button, it can, unfortunately, wrap around the child and knot.

According to the pregnancy charity Tommy's, one in every 225 pregnancies resulted in a stillbirth in 2020. This means that 2,638 babies were stillborn. On average, 13 babies per day are tragically stillborn.

If medical professionals fail to carry out necessary examinations and tests on you, fail to spot symptoms of any illness you or your child may have, or fail to highlight any issues with a consultant, then these could be signs that medical negligence has taken place.

Knowing that medical professionals could and should have prevented your stillbirth is hard to come to terms with and can make the pain you’re going through even worse. If this is the case for you, you may be able to make a claim for medical negligence. 

Why should I make a stillbirth compensation claim?

If a medical professional could have prevented the death of your child, then you could be entitled to claim compensation.

The healthcare professionals looking after you throughout your pregnancy have the responsibility to get things right. If they didn’t fulfil their obligation to you, it could be gynaecological negligence.

Somebody should be held responsible for the negligence, and you have the right to hold them to account.

Doing so could also prevent other people from suffering because of stillbirth. That’s because it can help make the hospital and medical professionals aware of what went wrong and what could be done to prevent future cases like yours.

A successful claim can mean you’ll be awarded compensation that can help secure your financial future and pay for any treatment or care you may need.

How long do I have to make a stillbirth compensation claim?

In cases of medical negligence, there is usually a three-year time limit to make a claim. Therefore, we recommend that you make your claim as soon as possible.

The sooner you start your claim, the easier it may be for you to remember the details of what happened. You may also find it easier to access certain pieces of evidence.

If you’re not sure whether you can still make a claim, just give the First4Lawyers team a call.

How much compensation will I receive?

After suffering from a stillbirth, the most important thing is getting the help you need.

Compensation could help you pay for funeral costs, as well as counselling or therapy. It can also cover any lost wages if you needed unpaid time off work.

For cases of stillbirths, the amount of money you get can depend on many factors. When your mental health has been significantly affected by a negligent stillbirth, you could be awarded up to £66,920.

Our compensation calculator can give you an estimate of the amount of compensation you may receive.

We recommend that you get in touch with First4Lawyers to get a more accurate figure from one of our specialist medical negligence solicitors.

I think I have a stillbirth compensation claim – what should I do?

We know that your priority will be to focus on your recovery and to get the best help you can for yourself and your family.

Once you feel the time is right, you may want to take action against those responsible for your stillbirth. Contacting us at First4Laywers can get this moving forward.

How will I pay for my stillbirth claim?

We offer a No Win No Fee service, which means you don’t have to worry about the financial struggles of getting legal help, as you won’t have to pay anything if your claim is unsuccessful.

You won't have anything to pay upfront, making the process risk-free.

This means you won’t have to worry about the cost of getting top quality legal help.

How can First4Lawyers help with my stillbirth claim?

Our compassionate advisors can tell you what steps will be taken next, and put you in touch with one of our specialist solicitors, who will work hard to get the justice you deserve.

There is no pressure to go ahead with anything straight away, so just give us a call, claim online, or request a call back. We will do things on your terms and at your pace.