Women who have high blood pressure during their pregnancy place themselves and their unborn child at a greater risk for injury.  Although many women with high blood pressure deliver healthy babies, the high blood pressure must be carefully monitored and if necessary treated by the doctor to prevent the escalation to something far more dangerous such as preeclampsia.  Preeclampsia involves a woman developing high blood pressure and protein in the urine after the 20th week of pregnancy.

If preeclampsia is not treated, the placenta can be starved of nutrients, including and inadequate supply of blood, oxygen, and food.  One of the consequences of this may be an infant born with a low birth weight.  Preeclampsia untreated may escalate into eclampsia which involves seizures or convulsions in the pregnant mother.  Eclampsia left untreated can escalate to the separation of the placenta, a premature birth, a low birth weight of the baby, or the death.   

Women who are at a greater risk of developing eclampsia include those over the age of 35 or under the age of 18, African American, multiple pregnancies, a first pregnancy, or those with diabetes, kidney problems or chronic high blood pressure.

Warning signs for preeclampsia may include headaches, unordinary weight gain, swelling of the hands or face, nausea, stomach pains, and vision problems.  Eclampsia warning signs may include seizures, muscle aches, or losing consciousness.  A doctor can provide a physical exam including blood and urine tests and an ultrasound.

If the preeclampsia is severe, the doctor may need to deliver the baby early with a premature delivery.  Premature delivery also poses additional health risks to the infant.  If the preeclampsia is not severe, the doctor may provide medicine to prevent the preeclampsia from escalating including leading to seizures.  The doctor may also prescribe drinking plenty of water, eliminating salt and junk foods from the diet, plenty of rest, and frequent checkups.

It is important that pregnant women take high blood pressure including pregnancy induced hypertension / PIH, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia and eclampsia seriously.  Doctor’s must monitor hypertension and if necessary treat it before it can cause serious harm to the baby or the mother. 

If your baby was seriously injured at birth because of the failure of the doctor to monitor and treat high blood pressure, you should contact California medical malpractice lawyer Dr. Bruce Fagel right away for a free consultation at (800) 561-9376.  Dr. Bruce Fagel is a leading medical malpractice attorney and a licensed medical doctor.  

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