Treatment of Pre-Eclampsia

Treatment of Pre-Eclampsia

Treatment of Pre-Eclampsia is normally restricted to nullifying symptoms, as the only way to cure the condition is to induce delivery of the baby – which can cause problems if the infant is premature.

The normal course of treatment is to increase the frequency of antenatal appointments where doctors will pay close attention to the mother’s blood pressure and urine samples. Attempts may be made to keep the mother’s blood pressure as low as possible, with significant durations of bedrest advised.

Where more severe symptoms are observed the mother may be admitted to the hospital for closer observation. Here attention will be focused on the baby’s development and the mother’s blood count, with ultrasound scans being performed at regular intervals.

In the most serious cases, anticonvulsant medications may be administered to combat the onset of fits associated with full eclampsia. In many cases, any fits the mother does sustain can be quelled with medication.

Pre-Eclampsia: Learn More

• What is Pre-Eclampsia?
• Pre-Eclampsia Claims

The impact of negligent care for Pre-Eclampsia

Where adequate care is not provided to the mother during the onset of pre-eclampsia, the immediate impact can be a worsening of symptoms, known to include the following:

• Excessive fluid retention (known as oedema) can result in swelling in the feet, ankles, face and hands.
• The mother may begin to experience severe headaches and problems with her vision.
• Some mothers experience pain in the region below their ribs.
• Episodes of dizziness and vomiting may become common.

In the most severe cases, the condition can be allowed to develop into what is known simply as eclampsia; where the mother starts to experience fits that appear similar to epileptic episodes. Whilst rare, these instances represent a serious risk to both the mother and child’s health.

Other symptoms associated with more advanced stages of pre-eclampsia are known to include:

• The failure of vital organs such as the liver, kidney and lungs.
• Problems associated with blood clotting.

Where symptoms of Pre-Eclampsia are not treated sufficiently quickly/well as a result of misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis it can become necessary to deliver the baby prematurely, as this is the only proven way to alleviate them. This can elevate the risks of birth injuries to the mother and birth injuries to the baby and a pre-eclampsia claim may be sought as a result.