Chicago Eclampsia & Preeclampsia Attorney
When a mother develops preeclampsia or eclampsia during pregnancy, serious complications and birth injuries can result if the healthcare provider does not properly treat the condition. Not only can the baby suffer serious birth injuries that can ultimately be life-threatening, but the mother can also experience a life-threatening stroke and other serious consequences of poorly managed preeclampsia or eclampsia.
If you experienced preeclampsia or eclampsia during your pregnancy and your healthcare provider’s negligence resulted in delayed treatment or poorly managed treatment that ultimately led to an injury, you may be able to file a claim for financial compensation. An experienced Chicago eclampsia and preeclampsia attorney at our firm can speak with you today about your case.
Learning More About Preeclampsia and Eclampsia in Chicago
What are preeclampsia and eclampsia? According to Harvard Health Publishing from Harvard Medical School, preeclampsia “is a condition that begins during pregnancy, usually after the 20th week,” yet “the symptoms and signs of preeclampsia may persist after delivery, and rarely the condition might not be recognized until after the baby is born. A mother that has preeclampsia typically will develop high blood pressure during the pregnancy in addition to swelling, also known as edema. A pregnant woman with preeclampsia can experience swelling in the entire body, as well as localized swelling in the hands, legs, or face.
Preeclampsia can also worsen and become more severe, and sometimes it can become eclampsia. Eclampsia, according to Harvard Health Publishing, is “the term used when seizures develop in a woman with severe preeclampsia.” In addition to preeclampsia becoming eclampsia, these conditions can also increase the likelihood that a pregnant woman will suffer a stroke during the pregnancy, thereby putting the life of both the mother and the newborn at risk.
Risk Factors for Preeclampsia and Eclampsia in Chicago
Some pregnant women are at greater risk than others of developing preeclampsia or eclampsia, and it is essential for healthcare providers to monitor for signs and symptoms. When a healthcare provider does identify signs of preeclampsia, it is essential for the pregnant woman to receive proper care. If a healthcare provider fails to identify risk factors for preeclampsia and eclampsia, or if a healthcare provider fails to diagnose and treat preeclampsia or eclampsia, both the mother and the baby can sustain severe injuries. The following are risk factors for preeclampsia and eclampsia according to WebMD:
- First pregnancy;
- Close family member (mother or sister) with preeclampsia or eclampsia during one of their pregnancies;
- Pregnancy with twins, triplets, or other multiples;
- Being African American;
- Being under 20 or over 35 during the pregnancy;
- History of high blood pressure;
- History of kidney disease;
- History of diabetes;
- Body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy of over 30; or
- History of having preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy.
As many as 3 percent to 7 percent of pregnancies in the U.S. involve a diagnosis of preeclampsia. It is important to note that preeclampsia can affect anybody during a pregnancy even if one of the above risk factors is not present.
Contact a Preeclampsia and Eclampsia Attorney in Chicago
If you developed preeclampsia or eclampsia that led to an injury, you could be able to file a claim. Our Chicago birth injury lawyers can help. Contact Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC for more information.
