Skilled Birth Injury Attorneys Serving Baltimore Since 1948
Any pregnancy takes a toll on the mother's body. Systems adapt in order to accommodate this new life, and occasionally the physical stress of pregnancy and birth causes injury, especially if the mother has existing health complications. One such complication that can potentially cause injury or death is heart disease. In fact, maternal heart disease is one of the leading causes of fatalities during birth in the U.S.
Though maternal heart disease cannot always be prevented, a poor birth plan and substandard medical care can. If you or a loved one have suffered an injury, don't hesitate to contact our birth injury lawyers.
Cardiac Complications During Pregnancy & Birth
The heart and circulatory system are one of the most impacted areas of a woman's body during pregnancy. To nourish the developing child, the mother's blood volume increases by 30-50%. This means that the heart has to exert more energy to keep up with the change.
Cardiac complications such as the following may occur during pregnancy:
- Heart Rhythm Issues: Most women experience some level of heart rhythm abnormalities during pregnancy. Unless unusually abnormal, these are not typically grounds for anxiety.
- Congestive Heart Failure: Women with a history of congestive heart failure are at a greater risk of the condition worsening while they are pregnant or giving birth.
- Congenital Heart Defect: If the mother was born with a heart defect, it is possible the baby may inherit a heart defect or be born prematurely.
- Heart Valve Issues: Malfunctioning artificial heart valves may increase risk during pregnancy and may also increase the woman's chance of endocarditis (an infection in the lining of the heart and heart valves).
The birth risks associated with any of these conditions can be lessened with proper planning and careful physician attention. If you feel you or your child may have been injured due to medical malpractice or a malfunctioning artificial heart valve, contact Murphy, Falcon & Murphy.
Hire a Caring Baltimore Birth Injury Lawyer
At Murphy, Falcon & Murphy, our talented attorneys draw on a wealth of knowledge and shared experience in order to successfully handle a variety of cases.
Call 410.951.8744 today for more information.