Each day women all over the country, including the state of Pennsylvania give birth to babies. While many of these pregnancies and deliveries go according to plan, according to a recent study, medical providers throughout the nation have reported an increase in complications described as severe due to the birth of a child.

The study, completed by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, looked at a ten year period starting in 1999. It found that during that time period, serious medical emergencies during birth increased by 75 percent. In addition, issues within a few days of giving birth also increased more than two fold.

There are a myriad of reasons that are looked to regarding why the numbers regarding pregnancy complications have been growing. In addition to women deciding to have children later in life, obesity and chronic conditions are also to blame, at least in part for problems during a pregnancy or delivery. According to one statistic, approximately 52,000 women find themselves facing pregnancy complications categorized as severe or life threatening each year.

Issues after childbirth can be due to some of those factors as well but often affect "healthy" women. The most common reason mothers die after giving birth is blood loss due to hemorrhage. Though this can occur in a vaginal delivery, severe bleeding is often due to placenta accrete which may occur after a Caesarean-section. Another cause of death after a delivery that could strike anyone, but is more common after a c-section, is pulmonary embolism. Because the number of c-sections performed has risen close to 60 percent in the last 16 years, these matters cannot be taken lightly.

Taking note of the alarming trends, many hospitals throughout the nation are taking steps to focus on protecting the health of the mother as well as the child. Accordingly, new procedures have been put in place and emergency drills are run. The goal is to minimize the damage the appearance of any of these conditions causes.

Individuals who have been injured due to pregnancy complications that were not identified or handled in a timely manner may decide to file a medical malpractice lawsuit against those providing care. While a successful lawsuit cannot undo harm that has been inflicted, in many situations it makes it easier to deal with. Loved ones of mothers who have died either during or after childbirth due to a complication may consider a wrongful death lawsuit as well.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, "Steep Rise of Complications in Childbirth Spurs Action," Laura Landro, Dec. 10, 2012