(845) 802-0047Pregnancy is a time of anticipation, excitement, and uncertainty. A pregnant person’s body goes through many changes, all of which are unfamiliar, especially if it is the family’s first pregnancy. Families put faith in their obstetrician or midwife and trust their healthcare practitioners can guide them through all the stages of pregnancy and help them deliver a healthy baby.
When your obstetrician’s mistakes cause you or your baby to sustain injuries, John Fisher, a Kingston preeclampsia lawyer, could help you determine if your medical provider acted negligently and might be legally responsible for the cost of your family’s losses. Mr. Fisher is an experienced birth injury attorney devoted to protecting patients’ rights.
Understanding Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is a medical condition characterized by high blood pressure during pregnancy. When doctors do not recognize the condition quickly enough, the health of both the mother and child can be in grave jeopardy.
Preeclampsia can lead to a placental abruption, which could endanger the lives of both the mother and baby. It can interfere with the blood flow from the mother to the fetus, which could deprive the fetus of vital oxygen and result in brain damage or even death.
Babies born from mothers with preeclampsia are at increased risk of developing cerebral palsy. The mother could suffer seizures, which could turn fatal when the untreated preeclampsia turns into eclampsia. The mother could be left with kidney damage, stroke, heart attack, or permanent cardiovascular problems.
A compassionate lawyer in Kingston understands how traumatic preeclampsia and eclampsia can be. They could work closely with a family to get them the financial recovery they need.
Symptoms of Preeclampsia
While anyone can develop preeclampsia, it shows up more often in the following situations:
- First pregnancies
- Pregnancies of teenagers
- Pregnancies of people older than 40
- Pregnancies of people who are obese
- Twins or higher-order multiples pregnancies
- Pregnancies of people who have gestational diabetes
- Pregnancies of people who already have high blood pressure
Many patients are unable to recognize the signs of preeclampsia on their own because many symptoms resemble common pregnancy symptoms, such as swelling of the hands and face. However, every obstetrician or midwife should regularly screen for it. They can test for it by observing elevated blood pressure levels and the presence of protein in an expectant mother’s urine.
In addition to requiring blood and urine screens, doctors should perform thorough examinations of their patients regularly to check for abnormal swelling and other symptoms. They should also take enough time with each patient to listen to their complaints and learn about their medical history. When a patient states they have experienced headaches, blurred vision, spots in their vision, shortness of breath, or abdominal pain, their doctor should order follow-up testing.
A Kingston preeclampsia lawyer could review a patient’s medical records and consult with other healthcare practitioners to see if the patient’s doctors acted negligently or carelessly.
Speak With a Kingston Preeclampsia Attorney
You probably had a great deal of faith in your labor and delivery team. When they violated your trust by failing to recognize or treat your preeclampsia and you or your baby suffered dire health consequences, you probably have a lot of questions.
Contact a Kingston preeclampsia lawyer today to get knowledgeable answers to your questions. Let John Fisher help you fight for justice.