Preeclampsia and high blood pressure during pregnancy are very serious conditions that, if mismanaged, can cause a baby to have birth injuries such as cerebral palsy. High blood pressure (hypertension) can harm the mother’s kidneys and other organs, and it can cause problems for the baby, like premature birth and low birth weight.
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Dealing with a birth injury diagnosis can be difficult, but our attorneys can help. The ABC Law Centers: Birth Injury Lawyers team focuses exclusively on birth injury and are dedicated to earning justice for families like yours.
What is Preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a more severe form of hypertension, affecting approximately 14% of all pregnant women. Preeclampsia causes dysfunction in the placenta’s blood vessels, thereby causing the unborn baby to receive less oxygen and nutrients. High blood pressure and preeclampsia increase a baby’s risk of:
- Poor fetal growth
- Intrauterine (fetal) growth restriction (IUGR/FGR)
- Placental abruption
- Premature birth
Preeclampsia poses the additional risks of the mother having kidney failure, a hypertensive crisis, HELLP syndrome, and eclampsia. These conditions can be life-threatening for both mom and baby.
Symptoms of Preeclampsia Should Be Addressed Immediately
If preeclampsia and hypertension are not properly managed, and a baby is not delivered in time, the baby is at risk of having serious birth complications such as:
- Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
- Neonatal encephalopathy
- Permanent brain damage
- Seizure disorders
- Cerebral palsy (CP)
- Intellectual disabilities
- Developmental delays
- Microcephaly
- Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL)
Preeclampsia and High Risk Pregnancy
When a mother has hypertension or preeclampsia, her pregnancy is considered high-risk. This means her obstetrician must monitor her very closely and perform more frequent prenatal testing. The mother should also be referred to a maternal-fetal specialist.The mother’s physicians must thoroughly counsel her regarding diet, medication, and lifestyle changes that can minimize or prevent the detrimental effects of hypertension and preeclampsia.
Treatments for Preeclampsia
There are generally two ways that you might be treated for preeclampsia. Your care team will either recommend:
- Delivering the baby immediately or
- Managing the condition until your baby is ready to be delivered
That time that your baby is “ready” for delivery depends on several factors, such as how far along you are in your pregnancy, you and your baby’s current health statuses, and how severe your case of preeclampsia is.
What should I do if my preeclampsia is severe?
If your preeclampsia is severe, you will be required to remain at the hospital for observation while doctors monitor your blood pressure and evaluate you for other potential complications. There are medications that can help those with severe preeclampsia, such as:
- Anticonvulsants (to help prevent seizures)
- Antihypertensives (to lower blood pressure) and
- Corticosteroids (speeds up development of baby’s lungs to prep for delivery)
With a severe preeclampsia diagnosis, the likelihood of early delivery (before 37 weeks) is much higher because this is the best way to ensure that both you and your baby are safe and healthy.
Exercise Can Minimize the Effects of Preeclampsia
Physical activity is recommended during pregnancy because it is beneficial to the health of the mother and baby. It is considered safe for both, and in fact, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that pregnant women engage in moderate intensity exercise every day or at least 3 times a week, even for women who previously did not exercise.
Exercise provides cardiovascular conditioning and it lowers blood pressure. It protects against preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders by:
- Decreasing oxidative stress
- Stimulating placental growth and
- Preventing dysfunction in the walls of blood vessels
Regular exercise can also help with fetal growth and it may reduce the effects of placental insufficiency. Of course, physical activity is only one component of the health of a pregnant woman with hypertension or preeclampsia. As soon as a mother is diagnosed with hypertension or preeclampsia, she and the baby must be monitored very closely so that delivery can occur immediately if the baby has nonreassuring tests or the mother’s condition becomes severe.
Tell us your story.
Dealing with a birth injury diagnosis can be difficult, but our attorneys can help. The ABC Law Centers: Birth Injury Lawyers team focuses exclusively on birth injury and are dedicated to earning justice for families like yours.
Monitoring Hypertension and Preeclampsia: Inpatient vs Outpatient Care
Hospitalization is often necessary when a mother has severe hypertension or preeclampsia. It is the best way to ensure close monitoring, testing, and quick delivery. A hospital stay is also useful because close monitoring can help the physician establish the severity and rate of disease progression.
If the mother chooses outpatient monitoring, she must receive maternal and fetal evaluations every 1-3 days and have quick access to medical care and a labor and delivery unit. These mothers should be aware of the signs and symptoms of major blood pressure changes and preeclampsia and they should monitor the baby’s movements every day.
Mothers should call their physicians immediately if they develop severe or persistent headaches, visual changes, shortness of breath, or have pain in the upper abdomen.
What is “Normal” Blood Pressure and When Should I Head to the ER?
Normal blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg; the top number is the systolic blood pressure and the bottom number is the diastolic pressure. Medication should be given to mothers whose systolic pressure is 150 or higher or whose diastolic pressure is 100 or higher.
Treatment should be given at a lower threshold to younger mothers whose blood pressure is lower or who had a low baseline blood pressure. Mothers who have symptoms that may be caused by elevated blood pressure (headaches, visual disturbances, chest discomfort) should also be treated. For mothers who have hypertension or preeclampsia, the target blood pressure is 140 – 150 systolic and 90 – 100 diastolic. If the mother has end-organ damage, the target is 140/90 or as low as 120/80.
Why is Early Delivery Important?
Due to the risks associated with hypertension and preeclampsia, scheduled, early delivery of the baby is highly recommended. The timing is based on the factors such as:
- The severity of the hypertension / preeclampsia
- How well-controlled the mother’s blood pressure is
- Whether other complicating conditions are present (e.g., placental abruption) and
- The gestational age of the baby
Preeclampsia at 37 weeks gestational age or later requires immediate delivery. If there is any evidence of serious maternal end-organ dysfunction or nonreassuring tests of the baby’s well-being, the baby must be delivered immediately, regardless of gestational age. For mothers with non-severe preeclampsia, expectant management is reasonable, but delivery must occur as soon as the mother develops signs or symptoms of severe preeclampsia / eclampsia (or at 37 weeks if the disease does not progress to the severe stage).
About ABC Law Centers
For nearly 30 years, our birth injury attorneys have worked with families facing extraordinary challenges and understand the importance of mental health support throughout the perinatal period. Early intervention and access to care makes a meaningful difference and we hope these resources help families find the support and community they need.
We are also committed to helping children harmed by preventable birth injuries. A successful legal case can help families secure the resources their child may need for life, including:
- 24/7 Attendant or nursing care
- Therapy and medical treatment without financial barriers
- Home and vehicle modifications
- Long-term financial support into adulthood
Our firm focuses exclusively on representing children with birth injuries and disabilities. We understand the challenges families face and are committed to helping them secure the care, support, and financial resources their child may need for the future. Contact us for a free consultation today. There are no upfront costs and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for your family.
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