When you are pregnant, the range of emotions felt is unbelievable. We are sure that both sides of a couple can attest to that. We know one thing – you cannot wait for the day you get to hold your child in your arms.

Unfortunately, the United States has a few problems when it comes to pregnancy and childbirth. Not only is the rate of women dying in childbirth rising in the United States, but there are also more than 23,000 infant deaths each year, giving us the highest infant mortality rate among developed countries.

What is going on?

One of the major complications is pre-eclampsia, a condition that is treatable if diagnosed correctly. But what if it is not properly detected due to the negligence of a doctor?

If you need a Drexel Hill pre-eclampsia attorney, turn to The Weitz Firm, LLC so you will have a team of experts standing by your side.

What Is It?

Pre-eclampsia is a condition that is treatable, but very dangerous for mothers and their babies. Characterized by high-blood pressure (it happens even with mothers who have no history of high blood pressure), the symptoms include the following:

  • Severe headaches
  • Changes in vision
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Decreased urine output
  • Liver or kidney impairment
  • Excess protein in urine
  • Upper abdominal pain
  • Fluid in lungs

Pre-eclampsia is responsible for up to 20 percent of all preterm births every year. It can also slow a child’s growth in utero by restricting their blood and nutrient flow. Studies show that pre-eclampsia is responsible for around 10,500 infant deaths a year in the US.

We see this condition typically develop around the 20th week of pregnancy and up to 25 percent of all pregnancies in the US now feature women with pre-eclampsia.

This is a common condition that doctors and nurses need to be on the look out for. Even before symptoms develop, doctors can be prepared by obtaining a full medical history for their patients, including family histories. There are many pre-existing conditions that increase a woman’s risk of developing pre-eclampsia and doctors should note these. Some of them include a family history of pre-eclampsia, high blood pressure, obesity, and African American ethnicity. Also, older women are at higher risk of developing the condition.

We do know that there are more than 250,000 annual deaths attributed to medical mistakes and one of the top medical mistakes is diagnosing errors.

The bottom line is this – yes, pre-eclampsia is dangerous, but it is very treatable, unlike many other pregnancy-related conditions. Doctors and nurses should never ignore signs of pre-eclampsia or say they are just “normal pregnancy hardships.”

The lives of two people are at risk, so medical professionals should act like it.

What Happens Now?

We know that this is not something you expected to be dealing with. Yes, you know there are risks during pregnancy, but you expect doctors to treat the ones that they can to the best of their ability. Pre-eclampsia is one of those treatable conditions that should not result in death or disability. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 267-587-6240. We are here when you need a medical malpractice lawyer.

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