Preeclampsia
It occurs when a pregnant woman has high blood pressure and protein in the urine after week 20 of gestation.
Signs and Symptoms
- Inflammation in the hands and face
- Obesity
- Urine protein (proteinuria)
- Age over 35 years
- Weight gain
- Swelling of hands and face or eyes (edema)
- Sudden weight gain in a period of 1 to 2 days, or more than 2 pounds (0.9 kg) per week
- Headaches that do not go away
- Trouble breathing
- Abdominal pain on the right side, below the ribs.
- Decreased urine output, not urinating very often
- Nausea and vomiting (a worrisome sign)
- Changes in vision
- Tests and exams
- High blood pressure
- Liver enzymes higher than normal
- Low platelet count
Causes
- Autoimmune disorders
- Vascular problems
- Your diet
- Your Genes
Risk Factors
- First pregnancy
- History of diabetes, high blood pressure
- kidney disease
- History of preeclampsia
- Multiple pregnancies (twins or more)
- Family history of preeclampsia
Diagnosis
- See how well the blood coagulates
- Monitor the baby’s health
Treatment and Management
The primary way to cure pre-eclampsia is to give birth to the baby.
Almost always, at 37 weeks your baby is sufficiently developed to be born healthy.
As a result, the provider may need to be born so that preeclampsia does not get worse. You can be given medication to help induce labor, or you may need a cesarean section.
If the fetus is not completely developed and you have mild preeclampsia, the disease can often be managed at home until your baby has matured. The provider will recommend:
- Rest in bed and lie on the left side most of the time or all the time
- Drink lots of water
- Eat less salt
- Visit the doctor frequently to verify that you and your baby are evolving well
- Take medications to lower blood pressure (in some cases)
- Treatment in the hospital may include:
- Careful supervision of mother and baby
- Medications to control blood pressure and prevent seizures and other complications
- Steroid injections for pregnancies less than 34 weeks gestation to help accelerate the development of the baby’s lungs