While not all birth injuries and conditions are preventable, in a certain number of instances the birth injury occurs as a result of substandard or negligent medical care. It is the role of the experienced medical malpractice and birth injury lawyer to perform a thorough review of the mother and baby’s medical records (including the fetal heart tracings where appropriate), consult with experts, and determine whether or not the often devastating injuries sustained by mother and/or child at birth were or were not due to the negligence or substandard care of the doctors, nurses or midwives involved in the care.
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE AND NEGLIGENCE IN THE PRE- NATAL PERIOD
The failure to detect, recognize and treat conditions occurring in the pre-natal period before labor and delivery begins, can lead to significant permanent later injury to the mother and/or the child at the time of the delivery and birth.
Some of the prenatal conditions frequently encountered during the pre-natal period include:
pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and ectopic pregnancies. At the Law Offices of Judy Greenwood, PC we have seen medical errors resulting in serious injury in each of these presentations and successfully handled these cases for our clients.
Gestational Diabetes
What is gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is hyperglycemia ( or high blood sugar level ) that is first detected in pregnancy. This is not to be confused with diabetes mellitus, which is commonly known as Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes and it is usually diagnosed prior to pregnancy. While gestational diabetes typically lasts throughout pregnancy, it can increase a mother’s risk for diabetes mellitus in the future or for the reoccurrence of gestational diabetes in a future pregnancy.
Risk Factors
Risk factors of gestational diabetes includes obesity, previous diagnosis of gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy, family history of diabetes mellitus, and diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) (Mayo Clinic, 2025).
Detection and Management
The oral glucose test is commonly used to detect any abnormalities in blood sugar levels. This requires drinking a specially prepared drink that is high in glucose. Within one hour, your blood is drawn to determine blood glucose levels. If higher than 140, you may be required to return to your provider’s office to perform a 3-hour glucose test. This entails of the same procedure of drinking a specially prepared glucose drink and observing blood glucose levels 3 hours after (NIDDK, 2017). This method is often used to confirm abnormal results from the first round of testing.
If your blood sugar levels are proven to be high, your provider may require you to take insulin to properly manage your blood sugar levels. It may also be recommended to follow a carb-controlled diet and to exercise routinely. Following up with your provider in prenatal visits is also essential in monitoring your blood glucose and ensuring that proper treatment is being received to safely control blood glucose levels.
What can happen if there is substandard care and the proper care and management is not provided to detect, recognize and treat this condition?
Failure to treat gestational diabetes can lead to fetal hypoglycemia following birth. Hyperglycemia during pregnancy can cause the fetus to depend on the mother’s supply of blood glucose. Hypoglycemia in a newborn can lead to seizures, which can have detrimental effects on the newborn, and causing harm that could have been avoided.
Poorly controlled blood glucose levels during pregnancy can also lead to fetal macrosomia, which is a fetus that is projected to be larger than 9 lbs at birth. Most macrosomic newborns are delivered via cesarean section (c-section), which should be addressed by the provider early on in the pregnancy . Failure to properly evaluate the mother for gestational diabetes or plan for a c-section delivery due to the large size of the baby can expose the baby to
a complicated birth and a loss of oxygen to the baby’s brain that could have been avoided.
Patients with gestational diabetes or diabetes mellitus are considered to be high-risk pregnancies, and are often paired with obstetricians who handle high-risk pregnancies. If properly diagnosed during the pre-natal period, it is essential that you routinely follow up on care throughout pregnancy and the following months postpartum to avoid the development of potentially harmful consequences to you or your child.
References
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2025, May 30). Gestational diabetes.
Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gestational-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20355339
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2017, May). Tests & diagnosis for
gestational diabetes . National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/gestational/tests-diagnosis
