The changes a woman’s body goes through during pregnancy are nothing short of miraculous. Under normal circumstances, her body knows what to do and makes the appropriate adjustments without incident. However, not everyone is quite so lucky. For instance, abnormal blood pressure during pregnancy can put a mother and child at risk.
Obstetricians here in Oregon and elsewhere need to keep a close eye on their patients in order to make sure that nothing jeopardizes the health of the mother and her unborn child. Even if a future mother does not have a blood pressure issue prior to pregnancy, she can easily develop one during it. If a woman experiences any of the following symptoms of high blood pressure, it would be a good idea to talk to her doctor immediately:
- Vision changes
- Flushed skin
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Swelling in the feet and hands
- Abdominal pain
- Headaches
- Shortness of breath
On the other hand, a woman’s blood pressure could drop dramatically as well, which could also harm either or both mother and child. Those symptoms include the following:
- Extreme fatigue
- Dizziness
- Sudden tiredness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Depression
- Clammy, cold skin
- Rapid breathing
- Blurred vision
A woman might expect at least some of these symptoms just because she happens to be pregnant, and her doctor may as well. However, her obstetrician ought to investigate further just to make sure since abnormal blood pressure can harm mother and/or child. If an Oregon woman experiences complications that harm her or her baby, it might be due to medical malpractice. It may be worthwhile to discuss the situation with an attorney in order to determine whether this is the case, and if so, how to proceed.