Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) involves the medical condition of a pregnant woman having high blood pressure. The pregnant woman's blood pressure elevates, she retains water, and protein is found in her urine. PIH if not monitored and treated can be very dangerous for the baby and even the mother.
In addition to the signs of PIH, including a high blood pressure level, water retention, and protein in the urine, other symptoms may include blurry vision, headaches, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, vomiting, or bruising easily. These may also be symptoms of other medical conditions, so if the pregnant woman is experiencing these symptoms, she should seek medical attention. A doctor can check the mother's blood pressure, urine levels, kidney, placenta, and also conduct an ultrasound.
Pregnancy induced hypertension may become serious enough to require that the mother deliver the baby early. Early delivery puts the baby at risk, including the possibility of stillbirth or lifelong medical problems. Pregnancy induced hypertension may restrict blood flow to the fetus, and this includes the possibility that vital organs in the fetus may be starved of critical nutrients necessary for growth and survival. The fetus's brain, uterus, placenta, kidneys, and liver, can all be damaged as a result of not obtaining the proper flow of blood.
Treatment of PIH may include drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water a day, avoiding salt, eliminating fried foods and other junk food, no caffeine and alcohol, medication, and exercise. The doctor will be able to recommend the proper treatment for the mother, depending on how serious the PIH is and how far along in the pregnancy she is. The doctor will also need to schedule periodic checkups for the mother to properly monitor the PIH and condition of the baby.
Early detection of PIH and treatment is critical to produce a healthy baby. As long as the PIH is detected and treated early, the mother should deliver a healthy child. However, if the doctor fails to discover the PIH, and provide monitoring and treatment, the baby and mother may be in danger. If the doctor fails to discover and treat PIH and this causes injuries to the baby, the family may have a case for medical malpractice against the doctor. If this unfortunate situation occurs, the family should consult a qualified
child attorney such as Dr. Bruce G. Fagel, who specializes in medical malpractice cases, including birth injuries.