May is Preeclampsia Month in order to bring awareness to a seldom talked about condition that can not only be harmful or potentially fatal to the child, but also the mother during pregnancy.

New York City Birth Injury Lawyers are well aware of the devastating effects of a mother not getting the proper diagnosis for preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome.

Thousands of women and babies die or get very sick each year from a condition known as preeclampsia, a condition that occurs only during pregnancy or the postpartum period. Both during preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome, women experience a rapid rise in blood pressure that can lead to seizure, stroke, organ failures and even death for the mother and the baby, according to the Preeclampsia Foundation.

There is no known cure for either disorder, which affects between 5 and 8 percent of all pregnancies, but knowledge is the best way to fight the disorders. Medical experts believe eclampsia can be caused by issues with blood vessels, genes, diet or factors involving the nervous system.

While it may not be well known to the public, that's no excuse for your doctor or midwife not to know you and your baby may be at risk for the disorder. When doctors don't provide the care they should, you may need to pursue a medical malpractice lawsuit in New York City against the medical provider.

Left undiagnosed, the disorders can lead to serious, and sometimes irreversible, health problems.

Globally, preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders are the cause of as many as 500,000 infant deaths and 76,000 maternal deaths each year. And keep in mind that experts believe once a mother has preeclampsia or HELLP syndrome, they are likely to be at risk in the future.