Preeclampsia is one of the most dangerous complications a mother can face during pregnancy. When properly monitored and managed, most cases of preeclampsia can be controlled until the baby is safely delivered. But when healthcare providers miss the warning signs, downplay a mother’s symptoms, or delay necessary intervention, preeclampsia can spiral into a life-threatening emergency for both the mother and her baby.
At Fieger Law, our birth injury lawyers represent families whose lives were forever altered by preventable medical errors during pregnancy and delivery. If you believe you, your child, or your family member was harmed because preeclampsia was not properly diagnosed or treated, contact us today for a free consultation.
What Is Preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication characterized by hypertension (dangerously high blood pressure) and signs of damage to other organ systems, most commonly the liver and kidneys. It typically develops after the 20th week of pregnancy, though in some cases it can appear earlier or even after delivery (postpartum preeclampsia).
The condition affects an estimated 3 to 8 percent of pregnancies. While the exact cause of preeclampsia is not fully understood, it is believed to be related to abnormal development of the blood vessels in the placenta, which restricts blood flow and triggers a cascade of harmful effects throughout the mother’s body.
What Are the Warning Signs of Preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia can develop gradually or come on suddenly. Healthcare providers are trained to screen for the condition at every prenatal visit, and recognizing its symptoms early is critical to preventing serious complications. Warning signs include:
- Elevated Blood Pressure: A reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher on two separate occasions is one of the primary diagnostic criteria for preeclampsia. A sudden spike in blood pressure in a patient who previously had normal readings is an especially urgent red flag.
- Protein in the Urine (Proteinuria): Excess protein in the urine indicates that the kidneys are being affected by the condition and is one of the hallmark signs used to confirm a preeclampsia diagnosis.
- Severe Headaches: Persistent, intense headaches that do not respond to typical treatment can signal that preeclampsia is worsening and potentially affecting the brain.
- Visual Disturbances: Blurred vision, seeing spots or flashing lights, sensitivity to light, or temporary loss of vision may indicate increased pressure on the brain or swelling.
- Upper Abdominal Pain: Pain beneath the ribs on the right side can signal liver involvement, which is associated with severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome.
- Sudden Swelling: While some swelling is normal in pregnancy, rapid or severe swelling in the face, hands, or feet, especially when accompanied by other symptoms, can be a warning sign.
- Nausea or Vomiting: When these symptoms appear in the second half of pregnancy alongside elevated blood pressure, they can indicate a progression toward severe preeclampsia.
- Decreased Urine Output: A noticeable reduction in urination may signal declining kidney function.
- Shortness of Breath: This can indicate fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a serious complication of severe preeclampsia.
How Does Preeclampsia Harm the Mother?
The dangers of preeclampsia extend well beyond high blood pressure. When the condition is not properly managed, it can progress rapidly and cause serious, sometimes fatal, complications for the mother:
- Eclampsia: The progression from preeclampsia to eclampsia involves the onset of seizures, which can occur during pregnancy, labor, or even after delivery. Eclamptic seizures are a medical emergency that can cause brain injury, coma, and death.
- HELLP Syndrome: This stands for Hemolysis (breakdown of red blood cells), Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low Platelet count. HELLP syndrome is a severe variant of preeclampsia that can lead to liver rupture, blood clotting problems, uncontrolled bleeding, stroke, and organ failure.
- Organ Damage: Preeclampsia can cause lasting damage to the kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, and brain if not treated in time.
- Postpartum Preeclampsia: Some mothers develop preeclampsia in the days or weeks after delivery. When providers fail to monitor for postpartum symptoms or dismiss a new mother’s complaints, the consequences can be just as severe.
How Does Preeclampsia Harm the Baby?
Preeclampsia also directly threatens the baby’s health and development. The condition restricts blood flow through the placenta, which means the baby may not receive adequate oxygen and nutrients. The dangers to the baby include:
- Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR): Reduced placental blood flow can cause the baby to grow more slowly than expected, resulting in low birth weight and underdeveloped organs.
- Premature Birth: Severe preeclampsia often requires early delivery to protect the mother’s life, sometimes weeks or months before the baby’s due date. Premature infants face elevated risks for respiratory distress, brain hemorrhage, infection, and long-term developmental problems.
- Oxygen Deprivation: When blood flow through the placenta is severely compromised, the baby can experience hypoxia (low oxygen), which can lead to brain damage, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and cerebral palsy.
- Placental Abruption: Preeclampsia significantly increases the risk of the placenta separating from the uterine wall before delivery. A placental abruption can cause massive hemorrhaging in the mother and cut off the baby’s oxygen supply entirely, creating a life-threatening emergency.
- Stillbirth: In the most devastating cases, unmanaged preeclampsia can result in the death of the baby before or during delivery.
When Does Preeclampsia Become Medical Negligence?
Preeclampsia itself is not always preventable, but failing to diagnose it, monitor it, or respond to it appropriately is unacceptable. Medical negligence related to preeclampsia may occur when healthcare providers:
- Fail to screen for preeclampsia at routine prenatal appointments by neglecting to check blood pressure and urine
- Dismiss or downplay a patient’s reported symptoms such as headaches, visual changes, or swelling
- Do not order follow-up testing when blood pressure readings are elevated
- Fail to recognize the progression from mild to severe preeclampsia
- Delay hospitalization or bed rest when the condition warrants closer monitoring
- Do not administer magnesium sulfate to prevent seizures in patients with severe preeclampsia
- Delay delivery or emergency C-section when the mother’s or baby’s condition is deteriorating
- Fail to monitor for postpartum preeclampsia after discharge
- Do not properly communicate a patient’s risk factors or test results among members of the care team
When these failures lead to preventable harm, families have the right to hold the responsible providers and facilities accountable.
What Compensation Is Available for Preeclampsia Birth Injuries?
Injuries caused by mismanaged preeclampsia can require extensive, lifelong medical care. Families may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical Expenses: Past and future costs for emergency treatment, NICU care, surgeries, hospitalizations, medications, and any specialized care the child or mother requires
- Ongoing Therapy and Rehabilitation: Physical, occupational, and speech therapy, as well as developmental programs for children who suffered brain injuries due to preeclampsia complications
- Special Education and Developmental Support: Costs associated with individualized education plans, tutoring, and adaptive services
- Loss of Future Earning Capacity: Compensation for income a child may never be able to earn due to permanent cognitive or physical disabilities
- Pain and Suffering: Damages for the physical pain, emotional trauma, and diminished quality of life suffered by the child and the mother
- Maternal Injuries and Losses: Compensation for harm to the mother, including organ damage, emergency surgeries, long-term health complications, and emotional distress resulting from the negligent management of her condition
- Wrongful Death Damages: If preeclampsia led to the death of the baby or the mother, compensation for surviving family members for funeral costs, loss of companionship, and the profound emotional toll of their loss
Contact Fieger Law Today
If you or your baby suffered harm because preeclampsia was not properly diagnosed, monitored, or treated, the birth injury attorneys at Fieger Law want to hear from you. We understand how devastating these injuries are for families, and we fight to hold negligent hospitals and healthcare providers accountable.
Our team will conduct a thorough review of your prenatal records, lab results, fetal monitoring data, and delivery notes to determine whether your care fell below the accepted standard. We work with leading obstetricians and maternal-fetal medicine specialists to build the strongest possible case on your behalf.
Contact Fieger Law today for a free consultation.
