Pre-Eclampsia Negligence Compensation Claims.

There are a number of different symptoms which may present in mothers with pre-eclampsia, the most common of which is hypertension, or high blood pressure. Hypertension alone is not usually a cause for concern in pregnancy, but when paired with additional symptoms it can indicate pre-eclampsia. Other symptoms can include:

• High levels of protein in the urine
• Needing to urinate less frequently
• Oedema (swelling) of the feet, hands, and face
• Sudden rapid weight gain
• Reduced liver function
• Pain in the abdomen and just below the ribs
• Prolonged nausea and vomiting
• Severe headaches
• Vision problems eg dizziness, aversion to light
• Shortness of breath

Your midwife or obstetrician should be checking for the symptoms of pre-eclampsia each time you visit them for an antenatal check-up. However, if you experience any of the above symptoms during pregnancy, it is important to seek medical advice as soon as possible in order to avoid further complications.

The exact cause of pre-eclampsia is not fully understood, but it is thought to be related to the placenta not developing properly, which can happen when there is a problem with the blood vessels that supply the placenta. Pre-eclampsia can occur in any pregnant individual; however, there are a number of risk factors that can increase the likelihood of developing the condition, including:

• Mothers over the age of 35
• Mothers who are obese or have a history of obesity
• It is the mother’s first pregnancy
• It has been more than 10 years since the mother was last pregnant
• Pre-existing or gestational diabetes
• Carrying more than one baby
• History of high blood pressure
• Previous pregnancies with pre-eclampsia
• Family history of pre-eclampsia
• History of smoking
• Illnesses such as lupus, kidney disease, and rheumatoid arthritis

All pregnant individuals will be monitored throughout their pregnancy with regular scans and midwife appointments, and those who have one or more of the above risk factors can typically expect to receive additional monitoring during their pregnancy in order to detect pre-eclampsia early and prevent further complications from occurring.

Whenever you see your midwife or obstetrician, they will carry out a few simple tests to look for signs of pre-eclampsia, including:

• Blood pressure check – Using a blood pressure cuff, the clinician will measure the systolic and diastolic pressure of your blood, and a reading of 140/90 or higher is considered to be hypertensive during pregnancy.
• Urine test – You will usually be asked to provide a urine sample each time you have an antenatal check-up, this is to assess the level of protein in your urine using a dipstick.
• Blood test – If you are between 20 and 35 weeks pregnant and pre-eclampsia is suspected, your doctor may order a blood test to check your placental growth factor (PIGF) protein levels. Low levels of PIGF could be a sign of pre-eclampsia.
• Fetal ultrasound – Due to the placental issues which are believed to cause pre-eclampsia, the baby may not receive adequate nutrients and oxygen, which can slow down their growth in utero, and this can be detected by an ultrasound scan.

If you experience symptoms of pre-eclampsia at any time, don’t wait until your next antenatal appointment and instead seek medical advice straight away. If your pre-eclampsia was not detected early enough, due to medical malpractice, which has resulted in you or your baby suffering ill health as a result, speak to our team of experienced and understanding medical negligence solicitors today for advice on your claim.

There is no cure for pre-eclampsia whilst you are still pregnant, but the symptoms typically subside once the baby has been born. However, depending on the severity of your condition, it can sometimes be managed effectively until it is safe for your baby to be delivered. In mild cases of pre-eclampsia, for example when your symptoms include high blood pressure, water retention, and protein in your urine, your doctor may recommend making dietary changes (such as reducing salt in your diet; increasing your protein intake; drinking eight or more glasses of water a day) and may suggest sleeping on your left side to reduce the pressure on the major blood vessels. They should also monitor you more closely by increasing the amount of antenatal check-ups.

In more severe cases of pre-eclampsia, for example when the symptoms also include: extreme headaches; blurred vision; abdominal pain, and fatigue, the best course of action for both mother and baby is to deliver the baby via caesarean section. Depending on the gestation of the baby at the time, this could involve the infant spending some time in neonatal intensive care (NICU), and in some cases it may mean that the baby develops lifelong complications or does not survive being born prematurely.

If pre-eclampsia is left unmanaged, it can lead to serious and even life-threatening complications for both the mother and the baby. By failing to diagnose pre-eclampsia or neglecting to manage it correctly, the following could occur:

In the baby

• Restricted fetal growth and low birth weight.
• Birth defects and disabilities.
• Reduced oxygen in utero leading to conditions such as cerebral palsy.
• Premature birth potentially leading to neonatal respiratory distress syndrome due to the lungs not being fully formed.
• In some cases stillbirth or neonatal death can occur.
• There is some evidence to suggest that pre-eclampsia may increase the likelihood of the child developing autism or developmental delays.

In the mother

• Eclampsia – a condition where the same symptoms of pre-eclampsia are experienced along with seizures.
• Cardiovascular disease.
• Organ damage including pulmonary oedema, kidney failure, and liver failure.
• HELLP syndrome – a rare liver and blood clotting disorder which can be fatal for mother and baby.
• Blood clotting disorder resulting in either excessive bleeding due to the blood not coagulating, or blood clots forming throughout the body.
• Cerebral haemorrhage or stroke.

All healthcare providers have a duty of care to provide their patients with the appropriate level of care, and a failure to do so can sometimes have dire consequences. If you have suffered from pre-eclampsia during pregnancy which was either not detected or not managed adequately, and you or your child have suffered ill effects as a consequence, our team of specialist solicitors can help you to claim the compensation you are entitled to.

Whether you are treated in an NHS hospital or a private facility, the medical staff that you come into contact with during your pregnancy, such as midwives and obstetricians, should be well-trained in recognising the symptoms of pre-eclampsia, and diagnosing and treating it accordingly. However, in some rare cases, negligence on the part of the medical staff could lead to a mother’s pre-eclampsia going undetected or being mismanaged, thus allowing the symptoms to worsen and pose a threat to both mother and baby.

There are several instances in which you may be entitled to make a compensation claim for medical negligence regarding pre-eclampsia, including:

• When medical staff have delayed in diagnosing the condition, which leads to an increased risk to the health of you and your baby.
• When medical staff are negligent in monitoring your blood pressure at routine antenatal appointments, especially in the second half of pregnancy.
• When medical staff fail to refer you for further assessment after a high blood pressure reading or protein is detected in their urine.
• When pre-eclampsia is misdiagnosed as a different condition, therefore meaning the right course of treatment is not followed.
• When the condition is diagnosed promptly, but treatment is delayed, thus increasing the health risks to you and your baby.
• When the treatment provided is not suitable for the condition, leading to a greater risk of harm to you and your baby.
• When substandard care leads to a worsening of the condition, exacerbating the symptoms.
• When you have a history of pre-eclampsia or any other mitigating factors and are not adequately monitored by medical staff.
• When the negligent care and subsequent suffering has had a negative impact on your mental health, causing stress, depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

This list of scenarios is by no means exhaustive, so if you have received substandard care in any way throughout your pregnancy which has allowed your pre-eclampsia to worsen and cause undue harm to you and/or your baby, please get in touch with our team today and we’ll happily advise you on your right to claim compensation.