Pregnancy is a major health journey and a woman’s body is constantly changing. Some pregnant mothers find themselves developing high blood pressure – preeclampsia – even if they didn’t have blood pressure problems before pregnancy. This health condition, left misdiagnosed or uncontrolled, can be dangerous for mother and baby.
What’s Causing the Increase in High Blood Pressure for Pregnant Women?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Hospital Discharge Survey shows that a spike in high blood pressure could lead to pregnancy complications. This is something doctors already know: High blood pressure spells bad news for mother and baby.
Between 1970 and 2010, the CDC studied over 150 million women in the United States between the ages of 15 to 49 who gave birth. High blood pressure increased by 6% each year, making it the leading cause of maternal death.
The survey suggests that high blood pressure has become a growing problem due to the advanced age of the mother, since there is a rise in women waiting until they are older to have children. Of course, other conditions can also be in play, including the mother’s lifestyle, diet, exercise, environment, existing chronic conditions, and genetic predisposition to develop high blood pressure.
Understanding Preeclampsia
High blood pressure during the gestational period is also known as preeclampsia. This condition usually affects pregnant women in their second or third trimester and is the precursor to eclampsia, which can cause the mother to have seizures.
A mother’s body is already being taxed by the demands of her pregnancy and growing baby. High blood pressure can cause serious damage, making blood vessels constrict and reducing the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the organs.
Preeclampsia is a major health problem that can lead to migraines, vision problems, abdominal pain and, even more frightening, stroke, preterm delivery, placental abruption, or low birth weight for the baby.
Preventing Complications from Gestational Hypertension
It is the duty of obstetricians to conduct proper testing on all pregnant women, make accurate diagnoses, and prescribe and deliver appropriate treatment. As part of the standard of obstetrical care, blood pressure and urine are tested at each prenatal visit – preeclampsia can present as protein in the urine.
Preeclampsia can only be cured by delivering the baby, which is why many women who suffer from this condition will have premature births. However, doctors can help their patients manage pregnancy hypertension, sometimes through medication or even hospitalization.
If you or your baby have suffered a birth injury because of a medical misdiagnosis or medical negligence, contact the Michigan personal injury attorneys at Thurswell Law to get the compensation you deserve. Schedule a consultation by calling (248) 354-2222 today. We do not charge any fees until we win.
