Inadequate Prenatal Care Can Lead To Maternal Injury or Death

Pregnancy and childbirth pose serious health risks for many people. Despite modern medical advances, the U.S. has one of the highest maternal mortality rates of all high-income nations. Proper prenatal care is one of the most crucial tools to combat these alarming statistics. In addition to providing a strong foundation for a baby’s development, prenatal care helps reduce the risk of severe maternal injury or death related to pregnancy. Inadequate or negligent care can have catastrophic results.

Major Causes of Maternal Death

According to the World Health Organization, about 75% of maternal deaths are caused by four main complications:

• Severe bleeding, usually after childbirth (postpartum hemorrhage).
• Infections (often following delivery).
• High blood pressure disorders, such as pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.
• Complications during delivery.

These emergencies can escalate quickly. A postpartum hemorrhage can become fatal within hours if not appropriately managed. Untreated infections can lead to sepsis. Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia can trigger seizures, organ failure, or stroke.

The Shift From Hemorrhage to Cardiovascular Disease

Hemorrhage was the leading cause of maternal death in the U.S. for many years. While improvements in prenatal and obstetric care have reduced deaths from hemorrhage and infection, rising rates of chronic diseases have fueled the increase in cardiovascular complications. Cardiovascular issues are now the leading cause of maternal deaths in the U.S.

This category encompasses a broad spectrum of conditions, including:

• Hypertension (chronic or pregnancy-induced).
• Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (conditions linked to dangerously high blood pressure during pregnancy).
• Peripartum cardiomyopathy (a type of heart failure that occurs late in pregnancy or shortly after delivery).
• Stroke.
• Cardiac arrest.

This shift highlights how the overall health and demographics of pregnant Americans have changed over the past few decades.

Hypertension and Younger Mothers

Since 1970, the age at which U.S. women have their first child has steadily risen. According to CDC reports, from 2016 to 2023, the mean age for first-time mothers rose from 26.6 to 27.5. Women 35 and over now account for 12.5% of all first-time mothers, with women between 30 and 34 representing 25.1%. This delay also affects subsequent pregnancies, resulting in later births for second and third children.

Higher maternal age has traditionally been associated with increased risk of pregnancy complications and death. However, pregnancy-related deaths in mothers between 25 and 39 have increased dramatically. Many of these deaths are related to chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, which now affect younger adults at higher rates. These conditions become even more dangerous during pregnancy.

Hypertension, or chronic high blood pressure, is a significant factor in many cardiovascular maternal complications. Improperly managed hypertension can lead to pre-eclampsia or eclampsia, significantly increasing a mother’s risk of stroke, organ damage, and death during pregnancy. Effective prenatal care and monitoring can help manage hypertension and prevent these outcomes.

Proper Prenatal Care Can Reduce Injuries and Prevent Deaths

The CDC estimates that up to 80% of maternal deaths in the U.S. are preventable. Proper, consistent prenatal care is one of the most effective ways to reduce maternal mortality. Healthcare providers should perform appropriate screenings during prenatal visits to identify potential complications or prenatal issues. These may include:

• Monitoring blood pressure and screening for signs of pre-eclampsia.
• Identifying chronic conditions like hypertension or diabetes.
• Identifying common pregnancy-related conditions like gestational diabetes.
• Identifying and monitoring high-risk patients.

Prenatal care providers should also work with patients to help them manage ongoing issues, identify concerning symptoms, and improve their overall health. This may include:

• Developing nutrition and physical activity plans to manage hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic conditions.
• Educating patients about the warning signs of infection, hemorrhage, and cardiac symptoms.
• Developing safe birth plans, particularly for individuals with known medical risks.
• Providing consistent monitoring and timely interventions in the event of complications.

Effective prenatal care can prevent many maternal deaths. For example, early detection and treatment of high blood pressure can stop a mother from developing pre-eclampsia. Proactive monitoring can alert providers to take additional precautions for patients at risk for hemorrhage or heart complications during labor.

Unfortunately, many mothers experience inadequate or negligent prenatal care. Their care team may ignore warning signs, not perform appropriate screenings, or otherwise fail to follow accepted medical guidelines for prenatal care. This negligence can put both a mother and her baby at risk of serious injury or death.

Medical Malpractice and Maternal Mortality

Healthcare providers and hospitals, including prenatal care providers, have a legal duty to deliver care that meets professional standards. If they fail to do so and their negligence causes harm, a mother or her family may have grounds to pursue a medical malpractice claim.

Some examples of negligence by a prenatal or labor and delivery care team include:

• Ignoring or failing to treat high blood pressure during pregnancy.
• Delayed recognition and treatment of postpartum hemorrhage.
• Failure to diagnose or manage prenatal infections or infections after delivery.
• Inadequate response to signs of cardiovascular distress, such as chest pain or shortness of breath, during pregnancy or birth.
• Failure to identify factors indicating a high-risk pregnancy.

Medical malpractice claims help secure compensation for families injured by medical negligence. They also help hold doctors, nurses, and medical systems accountable for substandard care practices. This can help future patients stay safer and improve the overall quality of medical care.

Contact an Experienced Michigan Medical Malpractice Attorney

Prenatal care plays a critical role in identifying and managing risks before they threaten the life of a mother or her child. Labor and delivery care teams also bear significant responsibility for the health and wellness of both mother and child as they recover from childbirth. When a provider’s negligence causes harm, families can suffer devastating losses. A medical malpractice claim can hold negligent prenatal providers accountable. The experienced team at Sommers Schwartz, P.C. can help. We have decades of experience pursuing Michigan medical malpractice claims against hospitals, doctors, and other care providers. Our dedicated team understands how challenging these claims can be and will fight for the recovery you deserve. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.