[averysmommy13]

In September 2010 I had a stillborn baby girl. My pregnancy was fine up until maybe my 22nd week when I started to have severe edema. I work at a bank and I had fellow employees tell me I didn't look right something was wrong, I even had customers tell me to be careful and watch for signs of preeclampsia. Every appointment after that point my blood pressure would be higher and higher. During these appiontments I was even told to watch my weight because I had gained about 14 lbs in 3 weeks. Roughly about 27 weeks I started to have blind spots for days in a row. I called my doctor several times to complain about the blind spots and swelling they said I was fine. Finally at 32 weeks I was taken out of work on bed rest because dr didn't want blood pressure to increase. She had only paid attention to my swelling because I had told her I couldn't feel my hands anymore and when I did it was very painful. During these next few weeks I had reduced fetal movement, so at my 33 weeks appt I told the dr and he told me to drink coffee eat some sugar and salt and see what happens!! This appointment my blood pressure was 149 over 96 and upon leaving he did the reading again but when the cuff was placed on me it was extremely loose as to where it fell down my arm. So after this so called reading he said my pressure had dropped, which was crazy to me because when he tried to find her heartbeat he had a hard time which got me very nervous, so how could it have reduced so much after that scary situation. At the end of this appointment he scheduled a sonogram for the next week!! I was never hooked up to a fetal monitor and had only had sonograms at 7 and 17 weeks. A week later at my sonogram the sonographer said have you felt any movement because I can't find her heartbeat and you barely have any fluid. I was crushed and can't help thinking if testing was done the week before maybe we couldve seen this and saved her. During my pregnancy I had traces of protein in my urine a few times towards the end, also. The dr recommended I wait until the next day to be induced, which I believe should have been done tat day. The next day I was induced and while I was pushing dr said should be easy she is only 3lbs!! Never before this had it been mentioned, she was measuring 28 weeks at 34 weeks. The hospital was great with our circumstance! When asked if I wanted an autopsy we said yes, signed the papers and left the hospital. I called the hospital numerous times for the autopsy results,for 3 months I was put off until I called every day in December and finally got the answer :that nobody knows why but it was not done!!
Three months of waiting only to find this out. I had received my medical records from my doctors office, I strongly believe that they were altered. The chart, which were all written because this office doesn't have a computer system for record, because it said they measuerd my fondus at week 14!! It wasn't until well after 20 weeks I was measure, and the doctor that I complained about lack of fetal movement wrote in his statement that "patient never complained of lack of fetal movement"!! My baby's father was there with me he is my witness. I had blood test for everything they could not find anything wrong.
Is there any thing I can do there was obviously lack of care. I live in upstate NY. What kind of lawyer would I need to complain about the autopsy negligence. I have wanted a baby since I can remember, I also had 2 prior early miscairrages, and have currently been trying to get pregnant since October with no luck. Averys father, my boyfriend, tells evrybody that I still cry every day, nobody should have to go through the pain and grief of this situation. Thank you

[AK lawyer]

... I live in upstate NY. What kind of lawyer would i need to complain about the autopsy negligence. ...

You need an attorney who deals in medical malpractice. Your attorney will probably want a medical professional to review all pertinent medical records and determine if there appears to have been medical negligence with respect to your pregnancy, or a possible concerted effort to hide the evidence of such negligence.

I am really sorry for your loss.

[JudyKayTee]

I'm sorry for your loss. The cold fact is that proving medical malpractice is extremely expensive - reviewing records and finding expert witnesses is difficult. No Physician wants to speak about another and so you have to send records out of the area (perhaps out of State) and bring experts in from out of the area.

You need someone to back up what you think and feel about the treatment you received - only a trained medical expert can determine if the hospital didn't do something it should have done or did do something it shouldn't have done.

You say you are concerned about the autopsy negligence - I would be concerned about the total (lack of) medical care you received. The hospital CAN ask for permission to do an autopsy. If the Physician who signed the death certificate does not find it necessary, the autopsy does not get done UNLESS you pay for it privately. Were you offered that option?

I worked for a malpractice firm for a while. My concern would be your previous pregnancy history - that will undoubtedly be an issue.

If you are having emotional problems dealing with your loss you should see a therapist - it will prove you will emotionally damaged and it will help you.

I'm sorry about your loss - I had several miscarriages. The pain never totally goes away.

[averysmommy13]

Thank you for replying! My boyfriend and I were asked if we wanted the autopsy done and we said yes, it was important then we signed the papers giving permission. The doctor was fully aware and at my 6 week checkup said he would call with the results. He had the placenta done, which came out dead with baby, so it had detached. The placenta report said there were infarctions, or they said portions were not receiving oxegyn. I realize the case is hard and expensive, and not having the autopsy makes it impossible but that is why I want to pursue the hospital neglecting the autopsy. We will never have closure or piece of mind. O I also had medical insurance to cover cost, and would have paid out of pocket if that was the issue. Again thank you... I have asked other sights and never got a response.<3

[J_9]

I am so sorry for your loss as well. I am currently a labor and delivery nurse, so I experience this with my patients from time to time. It's very painful, and I am very sorry.

In the past, though, I was also a med/mal researcher.

As a nurse, who used to work in the legal field, I also advise that you seek an opinion from an attorney who specializes in medical malpractice. It can be expensive, but many of these attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. Meaning, if they think that malpractice was committed, and they take the case, they don't get paid unless you win the case.

With that being said, you need to focus more on your prenatal care rather than the autopsy. It appears that there was a lack of prenatal care that could have possibly prevented this horrendous outcome.

[JudyKayTee]

Absolutely agree with J9 BUT have to add that disbursements are paid up front in my area, and that includes the expense of obtaining and reviewing all medical records.