Complications of Pregnancy
Unexpected issues often develop during pregnancies and can threaten the well-being of an unborn baby. Obstetricians are expected to diagnose conditions that can pose a threat to the well-being of a pregnant person or their developing fetus.
Gestational diabetes and preeclampsia are two common medical conditions that arise during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes and preeclampsia can have harmful effects on the growing fetus. Other threats to a healthy pregnancy and baby might arise in the placenta, a flat, pancake-like structure connected to the umbilical cord which helps to pass oxygen and nutrients to support the fetus.
Failure to Diagnose Problems During Pregnancy
The pregnant patient is often the first person to recognize a problem with the fetus. Abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding may be the first signs of a problem. Or a pregnant person may sense the baby isn’t moving around in their belly as often or at all.
Doctors need to listen closely to their patients’ concerns in order to identify pregnancy complications as soon as possible. More importantly, doctors need to know when to perform testing that can show whether a fetus is at risk of permanent harm. Medical tests such as laboratory tests on blood or urine, ultrasound examination of the fetus, and non-stress tests help doctors diagnose problems affecting the pregnant patient or their fetus. Only then can doctors diagnose threats to a pregnant patient or a vulnerable fetus and do what’s necessary to protect them both from irreversible harm.
To learn more about ways doctors and hospitals should protect the pregnant patient or their fetus during pregnancy, please explore the following articles:
