What factors play a role in determining a high risk pregnancy?
High risk means that there is a health situation which could put the pregnant woman or her unborn child at a larger risk of having complications during the pregnancy or at the time of birth. A number of maternal and fetal factors play a role in determining whether a woman has a high risk pregnancy.
Maternal:
• Teenage pregnancies
• Age 35 or over
• Women weighing less than 100 before pregnancy or gaining too much weight during the pregnancy
• Women who are under five feet in height
• Family history of birth defects or medical conditions
• History of irregularities with the baby in prior pregnancies
• Women who have delivered more than five infants
• Previous issues with bleeding in the last three months of pregnancy
• Irregularities with the reproductive tract, the uterus, or high blood pressure in previous pregnancies
• Conditions involving pregnant women with Rh-negative blood and the baby in the womb with Rh-positive blood
• Regular or gestational diabetes (Gestational diabetes occurs when a woman is pregnant and her pancreas does not process insulin as it should.)
• Previous cervical, vaginal or kidney infections
• Serious health emergencies requiring surgery during previous pregnancies: appendicitis, gallbladder illnesses, obstructive bowels
• Post-term pregnancies or serious illnesses: respiratory, autoimmune or anemia
Other maternal factors that could determine if a woman is at a high risk during her pregnancy are: cancer, tuberculosis, herpes, AIDS, heart conditions or other serious diseases in vital organs, ulcerative or colitis.
Fetal:
• Being exposed to infections or serious medical conditions the mother had during pregnancy: Examples – Mumps, rubella, herpes, viral hepatitis and toxoplasmosis
• Mother took medications that were later proven to be harmful to the fetus: Examples – Lithium (Popular medication for Bi-Polar disorder), Tetracycline (used to care for bacterial infections, pneumonia or other respiratory infections) and Warfarin (used as a blood thinner)
• Mother smoked cigarettes, used illegal drugs or drank alcohol in excess
Other cases are presented to doctors when specific tests are ordered. The results of certain tests can reveal signs of problems in the baby’s health, like a heart condition. If serious illnesses are determined, the pregnant woman may have to take medicine or undergo repeated testing throughout the remainder of her pregnancy. Specific medical troubles may alert a doctor to schedule the mom for an earlier delivery than planned, as to safeguard baby and mom from further complications.
If you fit into any of the above categories and you and your unborn child were not monitored or tested accordingly by your physician during your pregnancy, you could have a legal claim.
What methods are used by doctors to monitor a high risk pregnancy?
Pregnant women who are at a higher risk for complications to her or her unborn child should be closely watched during the entire pregnancy. A high risk pregnancy patient normally visits her doctor’s office quite often. She receives a number of blood tests or other testing procedures are performed to monitor her and her fetus. Testing may include: amniocentesis, ultrasounds, blood work and monitoring of the fetus.
Goldberg& Osborne have years of education and experience with high risk pregnancy cases involving improper prenatal monitoring.
If you think you have a claim due to improper monitoring of you and your unborn infant, contact Goldberg & Osborne and your case will be examined shortly after your request has been received. You may call our personal injury law firm at our toll free number or fill out and submit our brief online form. Keep in mind that there are time limits for certain cases in every state, so time may be running out for you to file your claim. Our phone number is (800) 318-6316.
