Recognizing the Signs of Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is a condition that can occur in pregnant women. It will often occur during the end of a pregnancy. Some women have a greater risk of preeclampsia than others, including women who are overweight or have high blood pressure. When a woman’s blood pressure is incredibly high during the pregnancy, and there is evidence of extra protein in her urine, she is diagnosed with preeclampsia.
Unfortunately, this condition can cause harm to both the expecting mother and her unborn baby. Physicians must be aware of the signs and symptoms of preeclampsia, provide a proper diagnosis, and treat women with preeclampsia to help them while preventing serious problems from occurring.
The risks associated with high blood pressure
One of the most common symptoms of preeclampsia is high blood pressure. It is dangerous for a woman to have high blood pressure while pregnant because it puts much more of a strain on different organs, including the heart, kidneys, and liver. High blood pressure can cause a woman to experience severe swelling. It increases her risk of suffering from heart disease and heart-related conditions, including heart attacks. The high blood pressure can keep blood from properly flowing through to the placenta. If a woman’s blood is not flowing freely to the placenta, the baby will end up deprived of oxygen, which can lead to a life-altering birth injury.
Blood clots can be life-threatening
Blood clots can also develop when a woman is suffering from preeclampsia. Blood clots are dangerous because they stop the blood from flowing as it normally would. When blood begins clotting within certain areas of the body, such as the lungs, it can lead to a pulmonary embolism. Some blood clots can travel through the body before lodging in the brain or near the heart, putting a woman’s life at risk during her pregnancy.
Risks to the baby when the mother is diagnosed with preeclampsia
When a woman is pregnant and diagnosed with preeclampsia, it does not just have an impact on her, but it also has an impact on the baby. Because the condition prevents blood from flowing as freely to the placenta, babies born to mothers with preeclampsia are often born premature, which can lead to health problems later on in their lives. Women with preeclampsia are also at risk of having a stroke from sudden spikes in blood pressure, which can also put the baby at risk.
When the , the mother can develop eclampsia during labor or right after birth. Eclampsia causes seizures, and if the seizure occurs during labor and delivery, both the mother and the child could die.
If you, your loved one, or your child was grievously injured because of undiagnosed and/or untreated preeclampsia, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost time at work, and pain and suffering. At Bailey & Greer, PLLC, our birth injury lawyers fight for new families whose lives have been turned upside down because of medical negligence. We provide services in Little Rock and throughout Arkansas. Call us at 501-213-1512 or send us your info via our simple contact form.
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At Bailey & Greer, PLLC we do everything in our power to assuage those fears, and to help our clients find resolutions to their problems. Our Little Rock based law firm offers a wide variety of legal services to individuals and families throughout Arkansas. When you are hurt, you can trust the injury attorneys of Bailey & Greer.