Pregnancy can be an exciting time. Whether this is your first child or you have already been through the pregnancy and childbirth process multiple times before, preparing for the arrival of a brand-new life is an awesome honor and responsibility. Even if you feel that you are experienced in and knowledgeable about prenatal care and the health implications of pregnancy, each new adventure in motherhood can present its own unique set of challenges. No two pregnancies are alike, and the same woman may experience a different set of pregnancy-related complications with a second or subsequent pregnancy than she did with her first child. As daunting as that may sound, even very serious pregnancy-related complications can in many cases be addressed effectively with timely diagnosis and intervention, so becoming informed about the potential health complications that may arise during pregnancy, for both you and your baby, can prepare you to take proactive steps to seek appropriate care if health concerns do come up. If you have concerns about your medical care during your pregnancy, you may wish to speak with an attorney in your area who regularly works with patients suffering from maternity or birth injuries. Schedule a personalized consultation with Erin Marshall Law by calling 505-218-9949 from anywhere in New Mexico today.
What Is the Definition of Pregnancy-Related Complications?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define a pregnancy-related complication as a mental or physical condition that affects the health of a fetus (in the womb) or neonatal (newborn) infant, a postpartum person (someone who has recently given birth), or anyone who is currently pregnant (carrying a child). In many cases the same condition may have an impact on both the pregnant person and the child they are carrying. The severity of the potential consequences will depend to a large extent on the type of complication and the stage of pregnancy in which it occurs.
What Are the Odds of Having Complications During Pregnancy?
Many expectant mothers find pregnancy to be physically uncomfortable, but the vast majority of pregnancies progress to term without significant complications. According to John Hopkins Medicine, only about 8% of pregnancies incur complications that, if not identified and addressed appropriately, present significant risks of long-term adverse consequences for mother or baby (or both).
Pregnancy-related complications may be more common among the roughly 30% of patients who report experiencing mistreatment during obstetric care, according to the CDC, due to the negative impact these interactions have on a patient’s willingness to seek and advocate for their own care. Early identification is often key to effective treatment, so it is important both to attend any prenatal checkups and to be aware of, and monitor at home for, symptoms of some of the most common pregnancy-related complications for each trimester. If your healthcare provider has made accessing basic medical care during pregnancy unduly difficult for you, a maternity injury attorney with Erin Marshall Law may be able to review your situation and help you understand your legal options.
Common Complications During Pregnancy
The National Institutes of Health offer resources regarding some of the more commonly-encountered complications individuals may experience during pregnancy. A few examples include:
High Blood Pressure: Gestational Hypertension
People who already have high blood pressure will not suddenly get better just because they are now carrying a baby. However, some individuals who previously had normal blood pressure will experience a temporarily elevated blood pressure during pregnancy. Hypertension that develops during the second half a pregnancy but does not develop into preeclampsia (see below) is known as gestational hypertension. This form of high blood pressure may need to be controlled with medications during pregnancy, but for most people will return to normal within a few months after delivery.
High Blood Pressure – Preeclampsia
A more severe pregnancy-specific high blood pressure is known as preeclampsia. Like gestational hypertension, preeclampsia tends to develop after the 20th week of pregnancy. However, preeclampsia tends to come on more suddenly, and can be severe enough to be accompanied by signs of organ damage, such as protein in the urine, and may even lead to a coma or seizures. Preeclampsia is an extremely serious condition that can be life-threatening for both mother and baby, so getting prompt medical care if signs of preeclampsia develop is paramount. While in most cases medical professionals used to working with pregnant patients will be aware of the warning signs of preeclampsia, the unfortunate truth is that heavy caseloads and high turnover rates can sometimes combine to mean that personnel interacting with pregnant patients at the point of care fail to recognize the symptoms of this dangerous condition.
Infections
A mother’s body is designed to keep a growing fetus safe inside the womb, and in many cases can offer protection against not just visible threats, but unseen ones, such as viral or bacterial infections. Sadly, however, such protections are not entirely foolproof – and infections a mother carried before or contracts during pregnancy can sometimes have a devastating effect on the baby she is carrying. Infections that may be especially prone to cause problems, according to a separate resource from the National Institutes of Health, include:
- Bacterial vaginosis
- Chlamydia
- Rubella
- Hepatitis B
- Lyme disease
- Listeriosis
Not all of these infections cause the same symptoms, and many of them are more likely to cause serious health issues for the developing infant than for the person carrying the baby. For these reasons, it can be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the symptoms that are normal for pregnancy and watch for any changes or anything out of the ordinary. You may also wish to consider asking your doctor about whether any screenings are recommended, based on your own medical history.
Preterm Labor
A full-term pregnancy is usually defined as one in which labor begins at or after the 39th week. By this point, in most cases the infant’s brain, lungs, and other organs have usually developed enough for the baby to survive outside the mother’s body, without the placenta and umbilical cord supplying oxygen and essential nutrients. When labor begins at or before the 37th week of a pregnancy, on the other hand, the complications can be serious for both mother and baby, with the risks to the fetus generally increasing relative to the number of weeks left before term (the earlier the onset of labor, the greater the danger).
What Is a High-Risk Pregnancy?
While complications can arise during any pregnancy, they are more likely in some situations than in others. According to the Cleveland Clinic, pregnancies are commonly identified as “high-risk” if the pregnant person is over 35 years of age. Erin Marshall had both her children over the age of 40 and is personally familiar with these risks. Other risk factors include a maternal medical history that includes chronic conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
Just because a pregnancy is identified as “high-risk” does not necessarily mean that the mother or baby will experience any complications. On the other hand, unexpected complications can still interrupt even a “normal” pregnancy in which no warning signals have been identified.
Speak With an Experienced New Mexico Maternity Injury Lawyer
If you have suffered adverse health consequences as a result of a medical professional’s failure to monitor your pregnancy for complications and promptly address pregnancy-related complications as they emerge – or if you have tragically lost your child, or been forced to watch them suffer, as the result of problems that might have been avoided or treated more effectively with appropriate, timely medical interventions – then you have an ally in Erin Marshall Law.
Nothing we do can ever rectify the emotional and physical pain and helplessness that too many individuals experience as they navigate the challenges of pregnancy and childbirth, but understanding and support matched with knowledgeable advice can go a long way toward helping many survivors of maternity and birth injuries regain both their physical strength and their inner balance. Call our office at 505-218-9949 today to schedule your private, confidential consultation with a member of our staff.
