Suffering complications with the placenta after childbirth can be deeply distressing, especially when they result from poor medical care. If you’ve experienced health issues due to this, you may be entitled to retained placenta compensation.
Five Key Takeaways From This Guide:
- Retained Products of Conception (RPOC) is a potentially serious postnatal complication that occurs when the placenta is not fully delivered following childbirth.
- You may have grounds for a retained placenta negligence claim if partial or full placenta was not delivered after the birth.
- Compensation can cover the way you’ve suffered emotionally, physically, and financially from birth negligence.
- The time limit to claim retained placenta compensation is generally 3 years, though exceptions may apply.
- Our solicitors can help you on a No Win No Fee basis.
To find out if you could claim retained placenta compensation, contact our advisors today for a free consultation:
- Fill in our ‘claim online‘ form to get a callback.
- Call 03301230546.
Jump To A Section
- What Is A Retained Placenta?
- Can I Make A Retained Placenta Compensation Claim?
- The Average RPOC Compensation Payouts
- How Long Do I Have To Claim For Placenta Medical Negligence?
- How Is A Retained Placenta Caused By Clinical Negligence?
- What Are The Complications Of RPOC?
- What Evidence Can Support Retained Placenta Claims?
- How We Can Help You With Your RPOC Claim
- Retained Placenta Frequently Asked Questions
- Learn More
What Is A Retained Placenta?
A retained placenta is a postnatal complication where the placenta is not fully delivered after childbirth.
The placenta is a vital organ that develops during pregnancy to supply the baby with oxygen and nutrients. In a healthy birth, the placenta detaches from the uterus and is delivered during the third stage of labour. However, if part or all of the placenta remains inside the uterus, this is called a retained placenta or Retained Products Of Conception (RPOC).
There are three types of retained placenta:
- Placenta adherens: The placenta remains loosely attached due to weak uterine contractions.
- Trapped placenta: The placenta has detached but is trapped behind a closed cervix.
- Placenta accreta/increta/percreta: The placenta grows too deeply into the uterine wall and cannot detach naturally.
If not promptly diagnosed and treated, a retained placenta can lead to life threatening blood loss, severe infections, and the need for surgery, including possible hysterectomy.
If you or a loved one suffered avoidable harm, speak to our team today to find out if you can claim retained placenta compensation.
Can I Make A Retained Placenta Compensation Claim?
You may be eligible to make a retained placenta compensation claim you can prove:
- You were owed a duty of care.
- This duty of care was breached.
- You suffered avoidable harm as a result of of the breach.
All medical professionals owe their patients a duty of care. This means that they must always provide care that is of the correct standard. As such, this duty of care can be breached if substandard care is given.
It’s important to keep in mind though that, in some cases, retained placenta or RPOC can happen even when appropriate care is provided. It is not always the result of substandard treatment. For instance, if a tiny fragment is retained with no adverse effects, this may not amount to negligence.
To check if you have grounds to claim, speak to our advisors for free advice and support.
The Average RPOC Compensation Payouts
There is no set average payout awarded in retained placenta compensation claims, as all cases depend on how severely avoidable harm affects each patient physically, financially, and psychologically. In successful retained placenta compensation claims, there are usually two heads of claim.
General damages are the head of claim that covers your physical and psychological suffering.
Key factors that can influence the value of general damages include:
- The severity and duration of pain and physical symptoms.
- Whether emergency surgery or blood transfusions were required.
- The impact on fertility or the ability to have more children.
- Long-term or permanent physical complications.
- The emotional or psychological trauma experienced.
- Loss of enjoyment, such as the ability to enjoy family life or care for a newborn.
- Whether future pregnancies may be affected.
The Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) are often used by legal professionals to help assess the value of general damages. The JCG sets out broad compensation brackets for various types of harm.
Below is a table with types of harm linked to fertility and the reproductive system. They have all, with their accompanying compensation brackets, come from the JCG (except for the top row). Please only use this table as a guide though, as the actual amount of retained placenta compensation that can be awarded depends on the specific circumstances of each case.
| Harm | Severity | Guideline compensation brackets | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple serious types of harm and special damages | Serious | Up to £1,000,000+ | More than one serious type of harm together with financial losses, such as medical expenses. |
| Female reproductive system | Permanent Sexual Dysfunction (b) | £52,490 to £124,620 | Permanent sexual dysfunction, but in a person with children or who would never had had them |
| No Aggravating Features (c) | £68,440 to £87,070 | Infertility with no aggravating features, but in a younger person. | |
| No Medical Complications (d) | £21,920 to £44,840 | Infertility with no medical complications, where a person already has children. | |
| Infertility (e) | £8,060 to £22,800 | Infertility in a person who would not have had children | |
| Digestive System - Non-traumatic Injuries | Severe Toxicosis (b)(i) | £46,900 to £64,070 | Acute pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and fever that necessitates hospital admission for a few days or weeks |
For a free estimate of your potential general damages award, contact our team of specialist solicitors today for advice.
Other Factors That Impact Retained Placenta Compensation
In addition to general damages, you may also be entitled to claim special damages in a retained placenta compensation claim. Special damages are the head of claim that covers your financial suffering.
Examples of special damages that could be included in a retained placenta compensation claim include:
- Private medical expenses, including placenta surgery or postnatal care.
- Lost earnings if you were unable to work during recovery.
- Future loss of income if your ability to return to work has been affected.
- Travel costs for medical appointments or treatment.
- Therapy or counselling fees for emotional trauma or postnatal mental health issues.
- Childcare or domestic help if you were unable to care for your child or household.
- Specialist equipment or adaptations if complications led to ongoing physical limitations.
Special damages are important because they can significantly increase the overall value of your retained placenta negligence claim, particularly if the injury led to long-term or life-altering consequences. This is why it’s essential to keep detailed records of all related costs, through payslips, receipts, invoices, and bank statements.
Our solicitors will ensure that your retained placenta compensation reflects the full extent of your suffering. Speak to our advisors today.
How Long Do I Have To Claim For Placenta Medical Negligence?
You generally have 3 years to begin a placenta medical negligence claim, in line with the Limitation Act 1980. This time limit typically starts from the date the negligence occurred.
However, there are two key exceptions to this 3-year time limit in which claimants cannot claim for themselves:
- Children: The time limit is paused until the child turns 18. They then have until their 21st birthday to start a claim. In the meantime, a litigation friend, usually a parent or guardian, can bring the claim on their behalf. Litigation friends must act in the best interests of the person they represent and may need to be formally approved by the court.
- Adults lacking mental capacity: If the injured party is assessed as lacking the mental capacity to manage their legal affairs, there is no time limit unless or until they regain capacity. A trusted person may act as a litigation friend to represent them in the claim while they can’t claim themselves.
Call us today to get your retained placenta compensation claim started as soon as possible. Our advisors can also tell you more on how to become a litigation friend.
How Is A Retained Placenta Caused By Clinical Negligence?
Some instances of retained placenta can be avoided if appropriate standards of care had been followed.
As such, you may be eligible to make a medical negligence claim if the complications were caused by errors such as:
- Failing to remove placental tissue larger than 3cm after a caesarean section.
- Overlooking clear warning signs or known risk factors, resulting in retained products going undetected.
- Delayed diagnosis or treatment, which leads to issues like infection, excessive bleeding or the need for further surgery.
- Inadequate postnatal monitoring or dismissing patient concerns that should have prompted further investigation.
If a large section of the placenta remains in the uterus and goes undetected, especially following a caesarean section where removal should be carefully managed, it may indicate that the medical team did not meet their standard of care.
Tell us about your circumstances specifically to confirm whether you’re eligible for retained placenta compensation today.
What Are The Complications Of RPOC?
Complications of a retained placenta can be life-altering. These include:
- Life-threatening blood loss.
- Infections, such as endometritis.
- Need for emergency placenta surgery.
- Fertility issues or damage to the uterus.
- Postpartum haemorrhage.
- Psychological trauma or postnatal depression.
- Increased risk of complications in future pregnancies.
Such consequences may support a medical negligence compensation claim.
What Evidence Can Support Retained Placenta Claims?
To make a successful retained placenta negligence claim, you will need strong evidence clearly demonstrating how your care fell below the expected standard and directly led to your avoidable harm.
Such strong evidence includes:
- Medical records documenting your labour, delivery, and postnatal care, especially any references to placenta removal and monitoring.
- Ultrasound or scan reports showing retained tissue that should have been identified earlier.
- Surgical notes from any procedures carried out to remove retained placenta, which may indicate delays or errors.
- Discharge summaries that may highlight missed opportunities to detect symptoms or provide further care.
- Witness contact details, such as your birth partner or attending healthcare professionals, who can describe the care you received.
- Written timeline of your symptoms, concerns raised, and how your condition progressed following the birth.
If you choose to work with our team, our solicitors can gather much of this evidence for you as part of their No Win No Fee services.
Having professional support to collect and organise this evidence can make the claims process far less overwhelming, especially during what may already be a physically and emotionally difficult time. So, speak to us today to see whether you can receive this help.
How We Can Help You With Your RPOC Claim
If you instruct us to help you claim, you’ll receive expert support from solicitors who specialise in medical negligence compensation claims, including those involving retained placenta injuries.
Our solicitors are here to make the claims process easier. The services they offer include:
- Arranging independent medical assessments to evaluate your injuries and treatment.
- Gathering evidence on your behalf, including medical records and witness statements.
- Explaining legal jargon in so you can make fully informed decisions.
- Guiding you through the claims process, step by step, so you always know what to expect.
- Negotiating settlement offers to help you achieve the maximum compensation.
- Helping you apply for interim payments if you’re in urgent need of financial support.
- Organising access to treatment and rehabilitation, such as physiotherapy, psychotherapy, or occupational therapy.
- Assisting with practical needs, such as setting up a taxi account to cover travel to appointments.
- Accepting claims nationwide.
Our solicitors also handle claims under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which is a type of No Win No Fee arrangement. This means:
- You won’t pay fees upfront for your solicitor’s services.
- You won’t owe any solicitor fees if your claim fails.
- If your claim is successful, a success fee will be deducted from your compensation. A success fee is a legally capped percentage.
Contact our team for free today to find out whether you can access help and full No Win No Fee representation:
- Fill in our ‘claim online‘ form to get a callback.
- Call 03301230546.
Retained Placenta Frequently Asked Questions
What Are The Three Types Of Retained Placenta?
The three types are:
- Placenta Adherens: The uterus fails to contract effectively.
- Trapped Placenta: The placenta detaches but remains stuck.
- Placenta Accreta: The placenta embeds too deeply into the uterine wall.
How Is RPOC Diagnosed?
Diagnosis is typically made through:
- Physical examination.
- Ultrasound imaging.
- Observation of postnatal symptoms such as bleeding or pain.
What Treatment Is Available For Retained Placenta?
Treatment may involve:
- Manual removal of the placenta.
- Medications to assist uterine contractions.
- Placenta surgery is used if non-invasive methods fail.
What Are The Factors That Increase The Risk Of Retained Placenta?
Risk factors include:
- Previous retained placenta.
- Premature or prolonged labour.
- Stillbirth.
- Multiple pregnancies.
- Caesarean sections.
Learn More
For more information on related topics, you can browse some of our other guides here:
- How to claim compensation for sepsis.
- Make a hospital negligence claim.
- Make a doctor negligence claim.
For external resources that might be useful, you can visit:
- NHS – information on the manual removal of a retained placenta.
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) – information for the public
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) – postnatal care
If you’ve suffered because of a retained placenta, our medical negligence solicitors are here to help you make a claim on a No Win No Fee basis. We’re ready to help you secure the retained placenta compensation you deserve.