Birth injury compensation claims from Syntocinon and uterine hyperstimulation and rupture in labour

Syntocinon errors, hyperstimulation and uterine rupture during childbirth can cause severe injury to both mother and baby, and often lead to cerebral palsy and birth injury claims. In recent years, Boyes Turner’s specialist birth injury and cerebral palsy solicitors have recovered over £80 million in compensation for clients who have suffered devastating injury from hyperstimulation, uterine rupture or Syntocinon errors during their maternity care.

What is Syntocinon?

Syntocinon is one of the trade names for a synthetic oxytocin drug, which is sometimes used to stimulate maternal contractions in labour. In the other countries, such as the USA, the oxytocin uterine stimulant drug is also known as Pitocin.

Uterine stimulant drugs are sometimes used to stimulate a birthing mother’s uterine contractions, either to induce (start) or ‘augment’ (speed up) labour. When administered to a woman in labour, Syntocinon is designed to act in the same way as the body’s natural oxytocin hormone by stimulating the uterus (womb) to contract to open the cervix and push the baby into the birth canal for delivery.

Syntocinon is a very powerful stimulant and must be administered in very small doses. It should only be used under certain closely-monitored conditions. Syntocinon is usually given to the mother via a drip. The dosage can be adjusted easily and, if progress in labour remains slow, the dosage is often increased to try to get things moving.

When Syntocinon is being administered, the mother’s contractions and the fetal heart rate (a key indicator of the unborn baby’s health) should be monitored continuously and the mother’s overall condition kept under careful review. If Syntocinon is used inappropriately or in excessive amounts, the mother’s contractions may occur too close together or become too strong. This condition is known as uterine hyperstimulation and can lead to life-threatening injury to the mother from uterine rupture and severe haemorrhage (bleeding), and kill or cause severe brain injury to the unborn baby.

Why is Syntocinon given to mothers in labour?

Syntocinon is sometimes needed to stimulate or boost a birthing mother’s uterine contractions in labour.

Successful labour and vaginal delivery depend on the mother’s contractions opening (dilating) the cervix and pushing the baby down into the birth canal. Contractions are stimulated during labour by a natural hormone called oxytocin, but once the mother’s waters have broken or labour begins, delivery must take place within a timeframe that is safe for mother and baby.  Slow progress in labour can be a sign of problems ahead, such as an obstructed delivery, or it can delay the birth of a baby who needs to be delivered before their brain suffers permanent HIE injury from lack of oxygen.

When the progress of labour is slow, maternity teams use Syntocinon to stimulate the mother’s contractions. In the right circumstances, where mother and unborn baby are doing well, ‘augmentation’ or boosting of contractions with Syntocinon can be of great help in speeding up delivery. However, when Syntocinon is used incorrectly, it can cause hyperstimulation of the mother’s uterus (womb), leaving the mother at risk of uterine rupture and maternal death, and risking severe brain injury to the baby. 

What is uterine hyperstimulation and what causes it in labour?

Uterine hyperstimulation is a dangerous condition in which the mother’s uterus contracts too frequently or strongly. It is most commonly caused by mismanaged administration of uterine stimulants, such as Syntocinon, or by prostaglandins which are used to induce labour. Uterine hyperstimulation can also occur naturally in spontaneous labour.

If incorrectly managed, uterine hyperstimulation can lead to rupture (tearing) of the mother’s uterus, causing severe haemorrhage (bleeding) and ultimately maternal death.

Uterine hyperstimulation is also dangerous for the birthing woman’s unborn child who is subjected to increased stress from very strong and frequent contractions. The baby may struggle to take in enough oxygen, particularly if their blood supply is interrupted when the mother’s blood pressure drops severely from her own bleeding when the uterus ruptures. The stress of a hyperstimulated labour can cause brain damage to the unborn baby, even if the uterus does not rupture.

Whenever Syntocinon is used in labour, the baby’s condition must be carefully monitored by continuous electronic fetal heart-rate monitoring.  This is important to ensure that any deterioration in the baby’s condition is detected as early as possible. The midwife should also monitor closely the strength and frequency of maternal contractions and reduce or stop the Syntocinon completely if there are signs of fetal distress or uterine hyperstimulation.

What is uterine rupture?

Uterine rupture or tearing of the mother’s uterus in childbirth is life-threatening for both mother and baby. Rupture of the uterus has various causes but most commonly occurs in mismanaged labour when a previous caesarean or surgical scar breaks down during labour or delivery. This is known as scar ‘dehiscence’. 

The uterus has a generous blood supply. This is essential for the health and growth of the unborn baby. When the uterus tears, that blood supply and the oxygen that it carries does not reach the unborn baby. Lack or shortage of oxygen, even for a very short period of time, can cause hypoxic brain injury or death to the baby.

Severe bleeding (haemorrhage) from uterine rupture is also very dangerous for the mother. She may need surgical removal of her uterus (hysterectomy) to save her life, leaving her unable to have further children. Even if she doesn’t need a hysterectomy, her ability to carry further pregnancies may be affected by the damage to her uterus. The trauma from experiencing a uterine rupture and life-threatening haemorrhage can also cause the mother significant psychological injury.

Uterine rupture is a medical emergency. If uterine rupture is suspected, the baby must be delivered by emergency caesarean section and will need resuscitation after birth. Failure to recognise hyperstimulation or signs of uterine rupture can lead to devastating injury. Delays in delivery and resuscitation can cause severe brain injury to the baby who continues to suffer damage to their brain until their oxygen supply is restored.

Vaginal birth after caesarean section (VBAC)

VBAC deliveries, where a woman who has previously had a caesarean section opts to have her next baby by vaginal delivery, carry an increased risk of uterine rupture. This risk is increased where uterine stimulants, such as Syntocinon, are used to augment labour.

VBAC guidelines by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) mandate that women undergoing a trial of VBAC labour must first be fully counselled by a senior obstetrician as to the risks. The trial of VBAC labour must take place under continuous electronic fetal heart monitoring in a unit with facilities for immediate caesarean section and neonatal resuscitation. Negligent advice, planning, monitoring and management of VBAC labour and delivery can result in uterine rupture, and death or brain injury to the baby.

VBAC should not take place if:

• the mother’s uterus has previously ruptured;
• the mother has previously had surgery on her uterus;
• her previous caesarean scar runs vertically up the middle of her abdomen;
• the placenta’s position will obstruct a vaginal delivery (placenta praevia).

Birth injury compensation claims involving Syntocinon, hyperstimulation and uterine rupture

Our experienced, birth injury solicitors are highly skilled in recovering maximum compensation for mothers and babies who have suffered severe injury as a result of negligent maternity care.

Read more about some of our cases involving Syntocinon errors, hyperstimulation or uterine rupture:

• £18.7 million compensation settlement for a teenager in a  cerebral palsy hyperstimulation birth injury claim;
• £21 million compensation settlement for a teenager in an HIE birth injury claim involving Syntocinon, monitoring failures and delayed delivery;
• £16m compensation settlement for a teenager in a cerebral palsy birth injury claim involving Syntocinon, monitoring failures and delayed delivery;
• £14.6 million settlement for a young man in a cerebral palsy Syntocinon hyperstimulation birth injury claim;
• £4.7 million settlement for a severely disabled girl in a VBAC negligence cerebral palsy claim;
• Settlement for a mother who suffered uterine rupture, PTSD and the stillbirth of her baby in a VBAC negligence birth injury claim.

If your child has cerebral palsy or neurological disability or you have suffered severe maternal birth trauma as a result of medical negligence, or you have been contacted by HSSIB/MNSI or NHS Resolution, you can talk to a solicitor, free and confidentially, for advice about how to respond or make a claim by contacting us.