Pressure sores

[Ste1115]

For people with medical knowledge. How likely are pressure sores in labour?

None

Very unlikely unless you have a lot of risk factors (very low or very High BMI, poor nutrition, immobile, certain health conditions) and are in labour in one position for many hours. Most people are able to move around in labour.

I suppose if you had been immobilised by an epidural with a long labour it might be possible. Do you have any risk factors?
Could the marks be from some thing else you did during labour? My arms felt like I had been lifting weights for hours after labour. I don’t recall this but apparently with each contraction I was pulling myself into the bed rails.

It happens, but they tend to be fairly superficial and resolve quickly. The risk is increased by having an epidural and not moving around.

I ended up with grade 3 probably grade 4 pressure sore with an overlaying grade 2 pressure ulcer. I had an epidural at 8am and gave birth at 11.45pm. My epidural was topped up twice throughout.

Im just wondering is it just something that happens or is it neglect

Yes, labouring women can be at risk of pressure sores. Things which have and can increase risk include damp/wet and/or poor fitting sheets, immobility due to a dense epidural block (less common these days) as well as risk factors a woman may have herself. All women should be risk assessed on arrival and during labour to ensure the chances of her getting a pressure sore are reduced.

Were you able to move at all and change your position, where is the sore. Do they think you developed it in the hospital, they have to report pressure ulcers now, I think anything over a grade 3. That must be very upsetting, have you seen the tissue viability nurse.

Hi tissue viability said DTI grade 3 probably grade 4 pressure sore with an overlaying grade 2 pressure ulcer. The wounds were noticed during my labour x

Did they check your skin condition when you were admitted, is it on your sacrum area.

Cross posted with your update. That sounds nasty OP. As I said all women should be risk assessed (certainly that is my experience). Yes, if it was hospital acquired it should be reported. If wounds were noted during labour however (you say you had a quick labour?) the damage may predate this.

The hospital has to investigate and inform you of the outcome. Cat 4 pressure ulcers and cat 3 pressure ulcers with lapses in care need reporting externally to the hospital trust.

Sorry OP, reread your update so epidural sited over 15 (not 3) hours pre the birth? If you were immobile all this time (not recommended) yes this could have increased your risk if say sheets were poorly fitted/bunched up/damp and/or you have risk factors. As I say it should be reported and an investigation will take place.