Mismanagement Of High-Risk Pregnancy Attorneys

A high-risk pregnancy demands careful monitoring, timely intervention and strict medical oversight. When doctors fail to recognize complications or ignore warning signs, the consequences can be life-changing for both mother and child. If you or your baby suffered harm during a high-risk pregnancy, working with a birth injuries attorney is critical.

McKeen & Associates, PC, represents families in Detroit, Michigan, harmed by preventable medical errors during high-risk pregnancies. Our firm focuses on identifying breakdowns in prenatal monitoring, missed diagnoses and failures to follow established safety protocols. Our lawyers can also help determine whether the injury resulted from maternal conditions or from medical negligence that should never have occurred.

What Is High-Risk Pregnancy Care?

When a pregnancy is classified as high risk, the medical standard of care increases. Physicians must respond with heightened vigilance and more intensive monitoring. This elevated level of care includes:

• More frequent prenatal visits to closely track maternal and fetal health
• Referral to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist or perinatologist
• Increased ultrasounds and Non-Stress Tests (NSTs) to monitor fetal well-being

Negligence can occur when doctors attempt to manage complex conditions without specialist involvement or follow routine monthly visit schedules when weekly monitoring is required. Maternal-fetal medicine negligence can occur when providers fail to recognize that high risk demands high vigilance.

High-Risk Pregnancy Conditions Doctors Must Take Seriously

High-risk pregnancies require careful monitoring because certain medical conditions create immediate danger for both mother and baby. When doctors fail to recognize or properly manage these conditions, the results can be severe and preventable.

Preeclampsia And Eclampsia

Preeclampsia is one of the leading causes of preventable injury and death during pregnancy. It is identifiable through clear warning signs, yet these symptoms are sometimes dismissed.

Common indicators include:

• High blood pressure
• Protein in the urine
• Severe headaches
• Unusual swelling

These symptoms require immediate evaluation. Negligence occurs when providers minimize these warning signs as normal pregnancy discomfort or fail to administer necessary treatment. Appropriate care may include antihypertensive medications or magnesium sulfate to prevent seizures. Failure to act can lead to devastating consequences, including:

• Placental abruption
• Seizures known as eclampsia
• Stroke
• HELLP syndrome, a life-threatening liver and blood-clotting disorder

A preeclampsia malpractice attorney can find that early intervention could have prevented these outcomes.

Gestational Diabetes And Excessive Fetal Growth

Gestational diabetes requires careful management because uncontrolled blood sugar can lead to excessive fetal growth, known as macrosomia. When a baby grows too large, delivery becomes more dangerous.

Large infants are more likely to become stuck during delivery, increasing the risk of shoulder dystocia and brachial plexus injuries. These injuries can cause permanent nerve damage affecting the child’s arm and shoulder. Failing to manage gestational diabetes may include:

• Not monitoring blood sugar levels properly
• Failing to estimate fetal weight through ultrasound
• Not recommending a planned cesarean section when fetal weight exceeds safe thresholds, generally over 4500 grams for diabetic mothers

Poor management of gestational diabetes exposes mother and child to preventable harm.

Placental Complications

Placental disorders require immediate recognition and careful delivery planning. Failure to diagnose or manage these conditions can result in severe injury. The three types of placental disorders include:

• Placenta previa: Occurs when the placenta covers the cervix. Performing a digital pelvic exam in this situation can trigger catastrophic bleeding. Proper care requires scheduling a cesarean delivery.
• Placental abruption: Involves the premature separation of the placenta from the uterus, cutting off oxygen to the baby. Warning signs include vaginal bleeding or trauma, such as a fall or car accident.
• Placenta accreta: Develops when the placenta grows too deeply into the uterine wall. When not identified through ultrasound, delivery may result in massive hemorrhage and usually requires emergency hysterectomy.

A high-risk pregnancy malpractice lawyer investigates whether doctors properly screened for these conditions and planned delivery accordingly.

Infections And Multiple Pregnancies

Certain infections during pregnancy create serious risks for newborns if untreated. Providers must screen for:

• Group B Streptococcus (GBS)
• Urinary tract infections
• Chorioamnionitis

Failure to diagnose or treat infections with antibiotics can lead to neonatal sepsis or meningitis. Multiple pregnancies also require enhanced monitoring. Twins and other multiples are automatically considered high risk because one fetus may receive more nutrients than the other, a condition known as twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.

Negligence may occur when doctors fail to monitor fetal growth differences or delay necessary intervention.

VBAC Risks

Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) carries a known risk of uterine rupture. Because of this danger, strict safety protocols must be followed.

VBAC attempts should only occur in hospitals equipped to perform an immediate emergency Cesarean section. An anesthesiologist and surgical team must be readily available.

Attempting a VBAC in a facility without emergency capability or proper staffing may constitute malpractice if injury occurs. Providers must prioritize patient safety over convenience or preference.

Demand Accountability For Preventable Pregnancy Complications

Your high-risk pregnancy should have been handled with high-level care. If it was not, contact McKeen & Associates, PC, through CALL or reach out online for a free case review. No fee unless we win.