What is Preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia occurs when a pregnant woman who previously had normal blood pressure, has high blood pressure, protein in their urine, and swelling in their legs. It usually begins during the second half of pregnancy (from 20 weeks) or soon after their baby is delivered.

Symptoms and Diagnosis of Preeclampsia:

Preeclampsia is easily diagnosed during the routine you have while you’re pregnant. It may be asymptomatic or with mild symptoms. But it gets worse as pregnancy goes on.

There are some symptoms as following that can develop preeclampsia if a pregnant woman ignores them:

There are some symptoms as following that can develop preeclampsia if a pregnant woman ignores them:

• severe headaches that don’t go away with over-the-counter pain medication
• vision problems, such as blurring or flashing
• pain just below the ribs
• abdominal pain and tenderness
• nausea or vomiting
• sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet
• Preeclampsia can cause the placenta to detach or bleeding

If you notice any symptoms of preeclampsia, seek medical advice immediately by calling your doctors. Although many cases are mild, the condition can lead to serious complications for both mother and baby if it’s not monitored and treated. Weight gain and swelling (edema) are typical during healthy pregnancies. However, sudden weight gain or a sudden appearance of edema particularly in your face and hands may be a sign of preeclampsia.

The earlier preeclampsia is diagnosed and monitored, the better the outlook for mother and baby.

Signs in the Unborn Baby

The main sign of preeclampsia in the unborn baby is slow growth. Preeclampsia can reduce the fluid around the fetus.  If your baby has decreased movement, get medical advice.

Risk Factors:

There are a number of things that can increase your chances of developing preeclampsia, such as:

• having diabetes, high blood pressure or kidney disease before you were pregnant
• having an autoimmune condition, such as lupus or antiphospholipid syndrome
• having high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia in a previous pregnancy

Other things that can slightly increase your chances of developing preeclampsia include:

• family history of preeclampsia
• maternal age of 35 or older
• it’s more than 10 years since your last pregnancy
• expecting multiple babies (twins or triplets)
• having a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or more
• If you have 2 or more of these together, your chances are higher

What Causes Preeclampsia?

Although the exact cause of pre-eclampsia is not known, it’s thought to occur when there’s a problem with the placenta, the organ that links the baby’s blood supply to the mother’s.

Complications:

Although most cases of preeclampsia cause no problems and improve soon after the baby is delivered, there’s a risk of serious complications that can affect both the mother and her baby.

There’s a risk that the mother will develop fits called “eclampsia”. These fits can be life threatening for the mother and baby, but they’re rare.

What is the Treatment for Preeclampsia?

If you’re diagnosed with preeclampsia, you’ll be monitored closely to determine how severe the condition is and whether a hospital stay is needed.

 The recommended treatment for preeclampsia during pregnancy is delivery. In most cases, delivering the baby prevents the condition from progressing.

Delivery:

• If you are less than 34 weeks pregnant and if you are in the stable step, your doctor may suggest you to wait.
• If your gestational age is over 34 weeks, a decision should be made to terminate the pregnancy or continue the pregnancy based on your circumstances.
• If you’re at 37 weeks or later, your doctor may induce labor. At this point, your baby has developed enough and isn’t considered premature.
• Delivery of the baby and placenta typically resolves the condition.

Other Treatments During Pregnancy:

In some cases, your doctor may give you medications to help lower your blood pressure. They may also give you medications to prevent seizures, a possible complication of preeclampsia.

This article has been approved by Dr. Maryam Moshfeghi.