Chicago HELLP Syndrome Birth Injury Lawyers

When doctors fail to recognize or properly treat HELLP syndrome during pregnancy, labor, or the postpartum period, the results can be catastrophic for both mother and baby.

HELLP is a dangerous and often fast-moving condition that demands immediate diagnosis, vigilant monitoring, and decisive medical action. When medical providers overlook warning signs or delay lifesaving interventions, infants can suffer preventable brain damage, oxygen deprivation, prematurity-related complications, and lifelong disabilities.

At Beam Legal Team, we represent families nationwide whose children were harmed because of mismanaged preeclampsia, eclampsia, and HELLP syndrome. For decades, our Chicago birth injury attorneys have handled some of the most complex maternal-fetal malpractice cases in the country, including cases involving undiagnosed or improperly treated HELLP.

If your child suffered complications due to HELLP syndrome, we encourage you to reach out and share your story.

What Is HELLP Syndrome?

HELLP syndrome is a life-threatening condition that affects pregnant women, typically developing after 20 weeks of gestation or shortly after delivery.

Closely related to preeclampsia, but considered by many to be distinct, HELLP stands for:

• Hemolysis: The abnormal breakdown of red blood cells, leading to severe anemia and decreased oxygen delivery throughout the body
• Elevated Liver Enzymes: Indicating liver dysfunction or liver injury
• Low Platelets: Making the mother susceptible to dangerous bleeding and impaired blood clotting

Although HELLP is commonly associated with preeclampsia, some women develop HELLP with no high blood pressure and no protein in the urine, which makes detection particularly challenging. This is why physicians must maintain a high index of suspicion, especially when a pregnant or postpartum woman presents with concerning symptoms.

How Common Is HELLP Syndrome?

HELLP syndrome is considered rare, affecting roughly 0.1%–0.2% of all pregnancies. However, it appears in 10%–20% of women with severe preeclampsia or eclampsia.

Despite its rarity, it is one of the most dangerous obstetrical complications, and failing to act quickly can place both the mother and baby at immediate risk.

Risk Factors for HELLP Syndrome

Women are at increased risk if they have:

• HELLP syndrome in a prior pregnancy
• Preeclampsia or eclampsia (current or prior)
• A history of pregnancy-related hypertension
• Age over 25
• Caucasian ethnicity
• A history of giving birth (parity)

Because HELLP can develop suddenly—even in women with no prior risk factors—doctors and nurses must recognize early signs and monitor mothers proactively.

Causes of HELLP Syndrome

While the exact cause is unknown, medical researchers believe HELLP syndrome may be related to:

• Abnormal placentation
• Issues with placental development or blood flow
• Complications of preeclampsia
• Rare fetal metabolic disorders (such as LCHAD deficiency)

Regardless of its cause, the medical standard of care requires providers to identify symptoms quickly and intervene before complications escalate.

Signs and Symptoms of HELLP Syndrome

HELLP can present in many different ways. The most common symptom is severe pain or tenderness in the upper right abdomen, where the liver sits.

Other symptoms include:

• High blood pressure
• Excess protein in the urine
• Nausea or vomiting
• Headaches
• Malaise or overwhelming fatigue
• Visual disturbances
• Jaundice
• Excessive swelling
• Sudden weight gain
• Seizures
• Uncontrolled bleeding or frequent nosebleeds

Symptoms usually appear between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, but HELLP can emerge earlier or even within days after delivery.

How HELLP Syndrome Is Diagnosed

HELLP syndrome can be misdiagnosed because its symptoms overlap with more common conditions like gastritis, gallbladder disease, appendicitis, viral infections, or hepatitis. Because of this, some women are sent home with pain medication instead of receiving urgent obstetrical care.

Providers can diagnose HELLP through:

• Blood tests: To assess platelet count, hemolysis markers, and liver enzymes
• Urine tests: To check for proteinuria
• Blood pressure monitoring: To identify hypertension, which commonly accompanies HELLP syndrome
• Imaging (CT scans): To detect liver bleeding or swelling

When doctors fail to order appropriate diagnostic tests or ignore worsening symptoms, they place both mother and baby in danger.

Medical Management of HELLP Syndrome

Treatment depends on the severity of the condition and the gestational age of the fetus. Because HELLP can worsen rapidly, timely delivery is often the only way to protect the mother and baby.

Experts typically recommend delivery when:

• The pregnancy is under 23 weeks or at 34 weeks or more.
• The baby has passed away.
• The baby shows signs of distress.
• The mother’s life is threatened.

When the fetus is between 23–34 weeks:

• Doctors may administer corticosteroids to accelerate lung maturity.
• Magnesium sulfate may be used to prevent maternal seizures.
• Blood pressure medications may be required.
• Blood transfusions may be necessary for critically low platelet counts.

Historically, Cesarean section was the default delivery method. Today, if the cervix is favorable, the American Pregnancy Association recommends attempting a vaginal delivery to reduce bleeding risk unless the mother or baby shows signs of distress.

Complications from Mismanaged HELLP Syndrome

When medical professionals fail to diagnose or manage HELLP syndrome promptly, catastrophic injuries can occur.

Maternal complications include:

• Placental abruption
• Hemorrhage due to clotting disorders
• Pulmonary edema
• Lung failure
• Acute renal failure
• Liver rupture
• Stroke
• Maternal death

Infant complications include:

• Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)
• Severe respiratory distress
• Brain bleeding (Intraventricular Hemorrhage – IVH)
• Perinatal asphyxia
• Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
• Congenital heart complications
• Infection, anemia, apnea, bradycardia, and other prematurity-related conditions

Many children harmed by mismanaged HELLP syndrome develop lifelong disabilities such as cerebral palsy, developmental delays, seizure disorders, or motor impairments, all of which may require extensive medical care, therapies, equipment, and support.

How Medical Negligence Contributes to HELLP-Related Birth Injuries

Common medical mistakes that may justify a birth injury claim include:

• Failure to recognize HELLP symptoms
• Failure to diagnose HELLP due to lack of proper testing
• Delayed delivery despite clear maternal or fetal danger
• Failure to treat preeclampsia or hypertension
• Inadequate fetal monitoring
• Ignoring maternal complaints of severe abdominal pain
• Mismanaging postpartum HELLP symptoms
• Incorrectly dismissing symptoms as digestive or flu-like issues

These failures can lead to oxygen deprivation, trauma, brain injury, or preventable neonatal complications.