High-risk pregnancies are becoming more and more common in the United States and in fact, are more common now than they have ever been since the development of modern obstetric care.
Why?
More older women are having babies, as are women with diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and other conditions or ailments. All of these factors can contribute greatly to an increased risk of birth complications like
cerebral palsy.
But there is some good news too. There are more and more women giving birth successfully despite life-threatening conditions that used to make safe pregnancy and birth almost impossible.
No exact numbers are available, but doctors estimate that tens of thousands of high-risk women with the following fetus-threatening conditions have been having successful pregnancies in recent years:
- AIDS
- Organ transplants
- Heart defects
- Breast cancer
Other High-risk Pregnancies
There are no exact numbers, but other types of high-risk pregnancies that are becoming increasingly common include:
- Older Mothers – There were more than 104,000 births to women over 40 in the United States in 2005, and over 6,500 to women at least 45 years old.
- Chronic health problems – Obesity is on the rise. The percentage of obese women between 18 and 44 has more than doubled in the last 15 years.
- Multiple births – Increases in the prevalence of fertility treatment has caused an increase in multiple birth pregnancies.
- More cancer survivors – More women are surviving cancer and having children.
- Better medical care – Women with serious health issues used to die young, but many now live for much longer
If your child has cerebral palsy and you feel it may be a result of medical malpractice, please contact us today for a complimentary consultation with an experienced
cerebral palsy attorney who can examine the circumstances surrounding your case and help you determine if you are eligible to recover compensation for your medical expenses, pain, suffering, and more.
