Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is a type of high blood pressure that occurs during pregnancy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), high blood pressure occurs in 1 of every 12 to 17 pregnancies for women between the ages of 20 and 44. There are multiple types of high blood pressure that can occur.
High blood pressure can cause problems during and after the delivery of a baby. There are several complications that can be caused by high blood pressure during pregnancy. Fortunately, high blood pressure can be preventable and treatable. However, some doctors still overlook signs of this potentially harmful condition. In such cases, victims may file claims of medical malpractice against the careless doctor.
If you or your baby was injured because of PIH, get help assessing the legal options available to you. Contact our experienced Maryland medical malpractice lawyers by calling Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 for a free case review.
How Pregnancy Induced Hypertension Can Hurt You or Your Baby in Maryland
There are many potential complications associated with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). The problems caused by PIH can be devastating for victims. Furthermore, doctors that fail to address these issues can be found liable for medical malpractice. The following are examples of ways that PIH can hurt you or your baby:
Decreased Flow of Blood to the Placenta
PIH can cause a decreased flow of blood to the placenta. This condition can cause your baby to receive less oxygen and fewer nutrients. The lack of oxygen and nutrients can cause your baby to grow slowly, have a low birth weight, or be born prematurely. Furthermore, the slow growth and premature birth may cause breathing problems, increased risk of infection, or other complications for the baby. Victims can reach out to our Maryland personal injury lawyers for guidance and support after suffering complications related to decreased blood flow.
Placental Abruption
Some types of hypertension can increase the risk of the placenta separating from the inner wall of your uterus before birth. This condition can lead to heavy bleeding, which may threaten the life of you or your baby. This condition is associated with a condition called preeclampsia.
Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Intrauterine growth restriction is another condition related to PIH. This condition refers to the slowed growth of your baby. Intrauterine growth restriction can cause a wide array of complications and is associated with multiple types of hypertension.
Injury to Other Organs
Inadequately controlled PIH can also lead to injury to other organs. Mothers can experience damage to their heart, brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, and other major organs because of PIH. In many cases, damage to the aforementioned organs can be fatal. Our experienced Baltimore personal injury lawyers can help victims of organ damage caused by PIH assess the validity of their potential malpractice lawsuit.
Premature Delivery
Furthermore, premature delivery is another complication caused by PIH that can harm you or your baby. Sometimes, premature delivery is required to mitigate the other harmful conditions being caused by PIH.
However, premature deliveries can lead to a new set of issues for babies. Babies that undergo a premature delivery can suffer impaired cognitive abilities, vision problems, hearing problems, and other chronic health issues. If a doctor caused harm to your child by administering a premature delivery when it wasn’t safe, they may be found guilty of malpractice.
Future Cardiovascular Disease
Future cardiovascular disease is another harmful condition potentially caused by PIH. Hypertension can increase the risk of heart disease for both the mother and baby. Victims are at a particularly high risk of suffering future cardiovascular disease if they experienced PIH more than once or had a premature delivery caused by PIH.
Strokes
Lastly, PIH can cause pregnant mothers to suffer strokes. Strokes may cause victims to suffer devastating injuries or even death. Our Ocean City personal injury lawyers can help determine if your PIH-induced stroke occurred because of a physician’s carelessness. In such cases, victims may be entitled to financial compensation.
Types of Pregnancy Induced Hypertension that Can Hurt You or Your Baby in Maryland
Hypertension refers to abnormally high blood pressure. There are multiple types of hypertension that may be suffered by women during pregnancy. The complications associated with your condition may depend on the type of hypertension that occurred.
When doctors fail to screen for high blood pressure, harmful conditions can develop. Our experienced Towson personal injury lawyers can help victims determine if they may pursue compensation related to any of the following types of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH):
Gestational Hypertension
Gestations hypertension occurs in women that develop high blood pressure after 20 weeks of being pregnant. Compared to other types of hypertension, the risk of organ damage and protein deficiency associated with gestational hypertension is not as high. However, if left untreated, gestational hypertension can develop into more serious conditions.
Chronic Hypertension
Chronic hypertension refers to high blood pressure that was present in the mother before they got pregnant. It can be difficult to determine when chronic hypertension began. However, it can cause problems for the mother or baby during pregnancy.
Preeclampsia and Eclampsia
Preeclampsia refers to hypertension that occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy. This condition happens to women who previously had normal blood pressure that suddenly spikes during pregnancy. It can cause many serious issues such as organ damage. The following are examples of symptoms associated with preeclampsia:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Relentless headaches
- Problems with vision
- Swelling of the hands or face
- Sudden weight gain
- Difficulty breathing
In some cases, women with preeclampsia can develop seizures. This is a medical emergency referred to as eclampsia. Seizures are periods of altered brain activity that can lead to episodes of staring, diminished alertness, and convulsions. Eclampsia is a particularly severe complication of preeclampsia.
Furthermore, some women can develop preeclampsia after giving birth, known as postpartum preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is more common in mothers who had the condition during a previous pregnancy and mothers who are giving birth for the first time. Victims with preeclampsia can contact our experienced Columbia personal injury lawyers for help determining the proper course of action. If your condition was caused by medical negligence, you may be able to pursue monetary damages.
If You or Your Baby Suffered Pregnancy Induced Hypertension Because of Medical Negligence, Our Lawyers Can Help
If you or your baby suffered pregnancy-induced hypertension because of medical negligence, seek assistance from our experienced Bel Air personal injury lawyers by calling Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 for a free case review.