Monitoring the Mother's Condition & Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a dangerous medical condition unique to pregnancy. Doctors diagnose the condition through a combination of high blood pressure readings and proteins detected in the urine. It occurs most commonly after the 20th week of pregnancy. Also known as toxemia, it occurs in 2 to 6% of healthy first-time mothers. If not caught and treated in the mother, it can lead to life-threatening conditions including liver or renal failure and future cardiovascular issues. The baby may not receive the blood it needs, resulting in oxygen and food deprivation. It can lead to low birth weight and possibly other birth defects.

Doctors are charged with monitoring a mother’s condition closely to watch for signs of preeclampsia and provide her with appropriate treatment. Women will typically have more frequent prenatal checkups, change their diets and try to rest more on their left side to take weight of the baby and major blood vessels. Women do not usually experience symptoms that they can detect at home, so they are relying on the doctors and medical technology to detect and treat this condition. If you believe that your doctor failed to provide this service, then he or she may be responsible for any complications you experienced as a result.