Preeclampsia And What You Can Do About It

What Is Preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia occurs during pregnancy or after delivery when there is high blood pressure and protein in urine. Also, preeclampsia patient may have indicators of liver or kidney problems or low level of clotting factors in the blood.

Generally, preeclampsia occurs after the 20^th week of pregnancy, though it may occur earlier or after delivery in some cases.

About 5% of all pregnant women may get preeclampsia. It may progress to a more severe condition known as eclampsia. Like preeclampsia, eclampsia also happens during pregnancy, though it’s rare after delivery. Eclampsia occurs when high blood pressure results in seizures.

What are the causes of preeclampsia?

It may be difficult to identify a single cause of preeclampsia. However, some potential causes have been identified. They include: autoimmune disorders, genetic factors and blood vessel problems.

Also, there are factors that can increase the risk of preeclampsia. These risk factors include:

• Obesity
• History of high blood pressure
• History of kidney disorder
• Pregnancy with multiple fetuses
• History of diabetes
• Being over the age of 35
• First time pregnancy
• Early teen age

There is no definitive way of preventing preeclampsia. However, you may take baby aspirin after your first trimester to help prevent it.

Start early prenatal care and be consistent in attending sessions. This will enable your doctor to achieve early diagnosis and avoid complications. With early diagnosis, your doctor will be in a good position to provide you with proper monitoring until you deliver.

What are the symptoms of preeclampsia?

It is important to note that if you have preeclampsia you may not experience any symptoms. However, some of the symptoms that you may have include the following:

• Changes in your vision
• Abnormal swelling in your hands and face
• Right upper abdominal pain
• Persistent headache
• Sudden weight gain

How to diagnose preeclampsia?

Your doctor will do a physical examination and may find that your blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. S/he may order complete blood count. This measures how many red blood cells there are in your blood, and a platelet count to assess how well your blood is clotting.

Creatinine test will show how your kidneys are working. Creatinine is a waste product produced by the muscles.

Your kidneys filter most of the creatinine from the blood. However, if the glomeruli become damaged, it becomes difficult for the kidneys to filter creatinine well. As a result, excess creatinine remains in the blood. High blood creatinine levels may be an indication of preeclampsia.

Blood tests may show abnormal liver enzymes and low platelet levels. Also, urine tests can show protein in urine.

Additionally, your doctor can do a non-stress test to monitor the wellbeing of your fetus. A non-stress test is a measure of how the fetal heart rate changes with fetal movement. Your doctor can also do an ultrasound to check the health of your fetus and your fluid levels.

How can preeclampsia be treated?

If your doctor confirms you have preeclampsia, the recommended treatment during pregnancy is to deliver your baby. Delivery of the baby prevents preeclampsia from progressing.

Delivery option when pregnancy has reached 37 weeks

When you are pregnant and diagnosed with preeclampsia, your doctor may induce your labor at 37 weeks of pregnancy. At this time, the fetus has developed and is mature enough to be delivered.

Your doctor considers your health and that of your baby in determining the timing for delivery of your baby. Delivery of the baby and placenta is expected to resolve preeclampsia.

Further, your doctor makes a delivery decision if you have preeclampsia prior to 37 weeks. This decision depends on many factors. For example, your doctor will consider your baby’s gestational age, severity of preeclampsia and whether or not labor has begun.

What are the other preeclampsia management options during pregnancy?

You may be given medications to help reduce your blood pressure, if high. You may also receive medications to prevent seizure. Seizure is a possible complication, and so should be prevented.

You may be admitted to the hospital for thorough evaluation. Your doctor may give you intravenous medications to lower your high blood pressure. S/he may also give you steroid injections to help the lungs of your baby mature quicker.

In managing your preeclampsia, your doctor is guided by whether the condition is a mild or severe one.

The signs and symptoms of severe preeclampsia include:

• Seizures
• Fetal distress
• Fluid in the lungs
• Abdominal pain
• Impaired liver or kidney function

So if you notice any abnormal signs or symptoms during pregnancy, ensure you talk to your doctor immediately.

What are the treatments options after delivery?

Preeclampsia symptoms should resolve once the baby is delivered. Research shows that the symptoms in most women resolve, while kidney and liver functions return to normal within a few months.

Also, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists stated that most women with preeclampsia will have their blood pressure return to normal 48 hours after delivery.

It is important to note that in some cases blood pressure may rise again a few days after delivery. So you need a close follow-up care by your doctor. Additionally, you need to check your blood pressure regularly before and after delivery of your baby.

Though rare, postpartum preeclampsia can occur following a normal pregnancy. Therefore, it is important to see your doctor even after an uncomplicated pregnancy. This is more apt particularly when you have recently had a baby and experienced some symptoms.

What are the complications of preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia can be life-threatening for the mother and her child if not treated. So it is a very serious condition.

Complications of preeclampsia therefor include:

• Placental abruption
• Kidney failure
• Bleeding disorders due to low platelet levels
• Pulmonary edema
• Liver damage
• Death

Complications may also occur for the baby if born too early.

Conclusion

You should strive to stay healthy during pregnancy and keep your baby as healthy as possible. Ensure you eat a healthy diet, go for regular prenatal care checkups, and take prenatal vitamins including folic acid.

It is worthy of note that unavoidable conditions like preeclampsia can happen sometimes even with proper care. It can occur during or after pregnancy. This can pose a serious danger to your life and that of your baby.

So speak with your doctor concerning things you can do to reduce your chance of developing preeclampsia. Your doctor can also help you with the warning signs. This will help you recognize an impending preeclampsia early enough so you can seek medical attention promptly.

Finally, your doctor may refer you, if necessary, to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist for additional care.

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