If undiagnosed,
preeclampsia can lead to eclampsia, a serious condition that can put mother and
baby at risk, and in rare cases, cause death. Women with preeclampsia who
have seizures are considered to
have eclampsia. There is no way to cure preeclampsia, and that can be a scary
prospect for moms-to-be. But you can help protect yourself by learning the
symptoms of preeclampsia and by seeing your doctor for regular prenatal care.
When preeclampsia is caught early, it is easier to manage.
Preeclampsia can
prevent the placenta from receiving enough blood, which can cause your baby to be born very small. It is also one of the
leading causes of premature births, and the complications that can follow, including learning disabilities, epileps, cerebral palsy, hearing and vision problems.
In moms-to-be,
preeclampsia can cause rare, but serious complications that include; Stroke,
seizure, water in the lungs, heart failure, reversible blindness, bleeding from
the liver, and bleeding after putting to birth. Preeclampsia can also cause the
placenta to suddenly separate from the uterus, which is called placental abruption. This can cause stillbirth.
Preeclampsia is
most often seen in first-time pregnancies, in pregnant teens, and in women over 40 years of age. While it is defined as occurring in
women who have never had high blood pressure before, other risk factors
include; a history of high blood pressure prior to pregnancy, having a mother or sister who
had preeclampsia, carrying more than one baby, history of obesity, history of diabetes, kidney disease, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.
Risk factors associated with
preeclampsia include:
First pregnancies: The
chances of preeclampsia during a first pregnancy are considerably higher than
the subsequent ones.
Pregnancy gap: If
the second pregnancy occurs at least 10 years after
the first, the second pregnancy has an increased risk of preeclampsia.
New paternity: Each
pregnancy with a new partner raises the risk of preeclampsia, when compared
with a second or third pregnancy with the same partner.
Family history: A
woman whose mother or sister had preeclampsia has a higher risk of developing
it herself.
Age: Women over
40 and teenagers are more likely to develop preeclampsia compared with women of
other ages.
Certain conditions and illnesses: Women with diabetes, high blood pressure, migraines, and kidney disease are more likely to
develop preeclampsia.
Obesity: Preeclampsia
rates are much higher among obese women.
Multiple pregnancies: If a woman is expecting two or more babies,
the risk is higher.
In addition to
swelling, protein in the urine, and high blood pressure, preclampsia symptoms can include: rapid weight gain caused by a significant increase in bodily fluid, abdominal pain, severe headaches, change in reflexes, reduced urine or no urine output, dizziness, excessive nausea and vision change.
You should seek
care right away if you have;
- Sudden and
new swelling in your face, hands, and eyes (some feet and ankle swelling is normal during pregnancy.)
- Blood pressure greater than
140/90.
- Sudden weight gain over 1 or 2
days
- Abdominal
pain, especially in the upper right side
- Severe headaches
- A decrease
in urine
- Blurry vision, flashing lights, and floaters.
You can also have
preeclampsia and not have any symptoms. That is why it is so important to see
your doctor for regular blood pressure checks and urine tests when you are
pregnant.
The only cure for
preeclampsia is to deliver your baby. Your doctor will talk with you about when
to deliver based on how developed your baby is, how well your baby is doing in
your womb, and the severity of your preeclampsia. If your baby has developed enough, usually by 37 weeks or
later, your doctor may want to induce labour or perform a cesarean section. This will keep preeclampsia from getting worse. If your baby is not close to term, you
and your doctor may be able to treat preeclampsia until your baby has developed
enough to be safely delivered. The closer the birth is to your due date, the better for your baby. If
you have mild preeclampsia, also known as preeclampsia, with or without severe
features, your doctor may prescribe bed rest, either at home or in the hospital. You
will be asked to rest mostly on your left side. Resting helps bring the blood
pressure down, which in turn increases the flow of blood to the placenta which
benefits the baby. There would be careful
observation with a fetal heart rate monitor and frequent ultrasounds, plus medicines to lower your blood pressure,
and blood and urine tests.
For a diagnosis of preeclampsia to be made, both of the following
test must come out positive:
Hypertension: The woman's blood pressure is too high. A blood pressure reading
above 140/90 millimeters of mercury is abnormal in pregnancy.
Protein in urine: Protein
is detected in the urine. Urine samples are collected over 12 hours or more,
and the amount of protein is assessed. This can give an indication of the
severity of the condition.
The doctor may also order further diagnostic tests which may
include;
Blood Test: To
see how well the kidneys and the liver are functioning and whether the blood is
clotting properly.
Fetal Ultrasound: The
baby's progress will be closely monitored to make sure they are growing
properly.
Non-Stress Test: The
doctor checks how the baby's heartbeat reacts when it moves. If the heartbeat
increases 15 beats or more a minute for at least 15 seconds twice every 20
minutes, it is an indication that everything is normal.
The symptoms of preeclampsia should go away within a few weeks of
delivery.
By: Mercy Kukah
By: Mercy Kukah
No comments:
Post a Comment