Preeclampsia usually is diagnosed 20 weeks after pregnancy. Preeclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system. Other signs include: impaired liver function; vomiting; upper abdominal pain; severe headaches; excess protein in your urine; changes in vision; shortness of breath, decrease urine output; and/or thrombocytopenia. Some symptoms may be normal complications that occur during pregnancy. As such, it’s important to contact your doctor and inform him of any changes in condition. Untreated preeclampsia may be fatal for either the mother or the baby.

Is Preeclampsia a Reason for Emergency C-Section?

A birth injury is never something you want to deal with, so some doctors may have to decide to deliver a baby much earlier than expected. When this happens, they often rely on an emergency cesarean section or induced labor. Preeclampsia is one of the conditions that may require an emergency C-section because of the long-term damages that can arise.

Doctors often turn to emergency C-sections when an expectant mother or baby is at risk of severe harm. Here are some of the reasons preeclampsia can lead to doctors performing an emergency C-section.

Placental Abruption Has Occurred

If your placenta has detached from the uterine wall, it can cause significant and excessive bleeding. A large amount of blood loss can result in fatal harm to yourself and your baby, so your doctor may opt to perform an emergency cesarean section.

You may not notice anything wrong until you start bleeding, in which case you should quickly go to the emergency room. With proper monitoring, however, you should receive an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan from your doctor.

Restricted Fetal Growth

Restricted blood flow caused by preeclampsia can impact how much your baby receives nutrients. The lack of nutrients can impact how your baby grows. As a result, he or she may have a low birth weight. If your doctor believes that your condition will severely impact the baby’s development, they may opt to perform an emergency C-section to protect your and your baby’s health.

If your doctor fails to monitor your pregnancy correctly and doesn’t perform an emergency C-section when necessary, it may lead to a birth injury. At Maloney Law Group, P.L.L.C., our San Antonio birth injury attorneys work to safeguard your rights and pursue maximum compensation when you need it most. We’ll be there for you every step of the way.

Call our firm today at (210) 361-2997, and we’ll be there for you every step of the way.