Cobb County Preeclampsia Lawyer
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication in which the mother has very high blood pressure. This condition can cause significant harm to the mother and the baby if it is not treated quickly.
If your medical provider failed to notice signs of a complication during your pregnancy, you should speak with an experienced birth injury attorney about your legal rights. Our Cobb County preeclampsia lawyers could address your needs and help you build a strong case.
What Are the Common Symptoms of Mild and Severe Preeclampsia in Cobb County?
Women with mild preeclampsia typically reach a blood pressure higher than 140/90 and begin retaining more water than usual. These initial signs often arise after the 20th week of pregnancy. A mother might also experience sudden weight gain, swelling, or traces of protein in the uterine. At this stage, the condition generally does not cause much discomfort for the patient.
Signs that the preeclampsia is becoming more severe may include:
- Painful headaches,
- Blurry vision,
- Intolerance to bright lights,
- Extreme nausea,
- Pain in the abdomen, or
- Shortness of breath.
Once the condition gets to this point, the medical provider should begin treatment immediately. If the complication is not addressed quickly and causes further damages, a mother could work with a local preeclampsia lawyer to seek compensation for her injuries.
Treating High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
When it is recognized early on, preeclampsia can be treated before causing significant harm to the mother or child. When the condition is still mild, an obstetrician might order the patient to bed rest and increase check-ups to monitor the situation. The mother might also be told to consume less sodium and drink more water.
If the condition worsens, the medical provider may prescribe the patient medication to lower her blood pressure and keep it under control until she can safely deliver her baby.
Potential Effects of Eclampsia
If a doctor does not notice and treat preeclampsia quickly enough, it can develop into eclampsia. Possible consequences of eclampsia might include:
- Loss of consciousness,
- Organ damage,
- Seizures,
- Heart failure,
- Strokes,
- Blindness, or
- Postpartum bleeding.
This pregnancy complication can also lead to the death of the mother and catastrophic injury to the child. If a patient believes her medical provider did not adequately monitor and treat her preeclampsia, she should reach out to a skilled attorney to determine if there is grounds for a malpractice claim.
How Can Failure to Recognize Pregnancy Complications be Considered Malpractice?
Physicians, obstetricians, and other medical providers must monitor pregnant patients’ conditions so they can manage and treat any complications. Often, the common signs of preeclampsia are dismissed as symptoms of a typical pregnancy.
However, a prudent healthcare provider would check the mother’s blood pressure, perform blood tests, and examine urine samples to determine if she is experiencing complications. To monitor the baby, the medical team should perform ultrasounds and biophysical profiles.
Many women are at a higher risk for preeclampsia if they get pregnant, such as patients struggling with high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, and obesity. Women who have a previous history of preeclampsia, and patients pregnant with multiple children also have a higher risk of complications. If medical providers fail to review their patient’s records or perform thorough physical exams and testing when indicated, and these failures cause harm to the mother, it can be considered malpractice.
Proving Medical Negligence
When proving negligence, the patient’s attorney must thoroughly review her medical records to determine what signs of preeclampsia were present that the obstetrician should have recognized. The mother’s legal advocate must also present a qualified medical expert to explain what the standard of care is and how it was breached. This expert should have significant experience treating pregnant women with preeclampsia. Mothers should retain a seasoned lawyer to gain access to the resources needed to prove negligence in a preeclampsia malpractice case.
Contact a Cobb County Preeclampsia Lawyer Today
If you have suffered lasting injuries due to undiagnosed preeclampsia, you should seek medical care to address your condition. Once you are medically stable, do not hesitate to call a Cobb County preeclampsia lawyer. Reach out to our office today to explore your legal options.
