Like so many others across the country, most Pennsylvania mothers think they are out of the woods after the first trimester, which is undoubtedly a crucial time. However, as the pregnancy progresses, other issues could arise that put the mother and baby in harm’s way.
One condition that primarily occurs in late pregnancy is preeclampsia. This condition could have serious effects on your health, which would ultimately put your baby at risk. Your doctor should monitor you for the signs in order to take quick action to reduce its effects on you.
Understanding preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is a condition that causes dangerously high blood pressure in the mother. If you exhibit any of the following symptoms, you need to tell your doctor and possibly seek medical attention right away:
- Swelling in the extremities
- Protein in the urine
- Vision changes, such as blurry vision, floaters and flashing lights
- Severe headaches
- Dizziness
- Belly pain, particularly in the upper right side
- Changes in reflexes
- Severe nausea and vomiting
- Quick weight gain due to a large increase in bodily fluid
- Urinating less or not at all
The average time when preeclampsia appears is around 34 weeks. Of course, some of these symptoms may sound like normal pregnancy woes, but they still deserve your attention. Your doctors should be testing your urine for protein and making sure your blood pressure does not get too high. If your doctor fails to diagnose and treat the condition in a timely manner, you could end up developing eclampsia, which could lead to seizures.
The problem is that the only real cure for preeclampsia is to give birth. Ordinarily, the soonest a baby can safely be born is at around 37 weeks once the lungs reach a certain developmental phase. If delivering your baby would harm him or her, you may need some maintenance treatment until your baby’s chances of survival are optimal.
What happens if you develop preeclampsia and your doctor didn’t catch it?
If your doctor fails to properly diagnose your preeclampsia, you could end up suffering harm, and so could your baby. This could easily turn into a life-threatening condition. If you don’t receive the standard of care to which you are entitled, you could end up suffering permanent damage as could your baby since this condition could prevent the proper exchange of blood, oxygen and nutrients to your child.
Depending on the circumstances and the aftermath of your condition, it may be possible to pursue compensation for what happened to you and your family. In order to know for sure, it would probably help to discuss the matter with an experienced attorney.