A high-risk pregnancy is one where a mother is carrying twins, has preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, or another condition that raises the risk of complications.
When a high-risk pregnancy is mismanaged, both mother and baby can suffer injuries like:
- Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and cerebral palsy in the baby
- Preterm birth and its associated complications
- Stillbirth or neonatal death
- Severe maternal hemorrhage
- Stroke or organ damage in the mother from unmanaged preeclampsia
- Uterine rupture
That’s why the standard of care requires closer monitoring, more frequent testing, and faster decision-making when something goes wrong.
Factors for a High Risk Pregnancy
Several factors can elevate a pregnancy’s risk level, including:
- Maternal age, particularly under 17 or over 35
- Preeclampsia or eclampsia
- Gestational diabetes
- Multiple gestation, such as twins or triplets
- A history of preterm labor or pregnancy loss
- Placenta previa or placental abruption
- Pre-existing conditions, such as high blood pressure, autoimmune disorders, or obesity
Once a pregnancy is identified as high-risk, providers are expected to adjust their care accordingly. Frequent monitoring and specialist referrals may be necessary.
There is a much lower threshold for intervening if warning signs appear. When a physician treats a high-risk pregnancy like a routine one, it can spell bad outcomes for mother and baby.
High Risk Pregnancy Negligence
Injuries often occur when a provider fails to treat a high-risk pregnancy with the heightened medical standards it requires.
Common failures include:
- Failing to identify risk factors during prenatal visits
- Failing to refer a high-risk patient to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist
- Inadequate monitoring of fetal heart rate or maternal vital signs during labor
- Delaying a necessary emergency C-section despite clear warning signs
- Mismanaging preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, or other pregnancy complications
- Failing to recognize signs of placental abruption or uterine rupture
Complications in a high-risk pregnancy can escalate quickly; even a short delay in recognizing or responding to a problem can have lasting consequences.
Who Is Responsible for a High-Risk Pregnancy Injury, and What Compensation Is Available?
Responsibility for a high-risk pregnancy injury often extends beyond an obstetrician. Depending on what went wrong, liability may fall on a whole team of providers, including:
- The obstetrician who failed to properly manage the pregnancy
- A maternal-fetal medicine specialist who missed a warning sign
- Labor and delivery nurses who failed to monitor the mother or baby closely enough
- An anesthesiologist responsible for a medication error
- The hospital itself, for inadequate staffing or unsafe protocols
Typically, an attorney must coordinate with medical experts to determine which providers deviated from the standard of care and how that deviation caused harm.
Through a birth injury claim, injured mothers and families can pursue compensation for the full scope of their losses, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- The cost of long-term care for a child with a lasting disability
- Lost wages/reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability/disfigurement
If a high-risk pregnancy injury tragically results in the death of a mother or baby, surviving family members may also be entitled to pursue a wrongful death claim.
If you or someone you know experienced an injury during a high-risk pregnancy, contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney for help. Hampton & King can help you understand your legal rights during a free consultation.