, protein concentration in urine and other possible organ damage. This condition appears after the 20th week of pregnancy in healthy women. (i.e, women with a normal blood pressure range) It can be dangerous for your health if not treated in time, and can be harmful to both the mother and the child.
Healthcare professionals often advise the mother to have early delivery, but it isn't that easy and depends on the severity of preeclampsia. The gestation period also matters, and medications are mainly used to regulate the high blood pressure before delivery. There are several ways to prevent preeclampsia as well, but it can not be cured until the delivery of the baby.
Preeclampsia: An Overview
Preeclampsia is a common condition observed among pregnant women who have incredibly high blood pressure. There are other signs of this condition, such as high protein in your urine or swelling of your limbs.This occurs relatively late in the gestation period, and its severity depends on several factors. There are certain cases where this happens after childbirth. There is no cure for preeclampsia other than delivery, and the effects of this condition can strain your body up to 6 weeks after childbirth. If you're aware of the signs, then it can be helpful to determine this condition early on and treat it accordingly.
Healthcare professionals will monitor you regularly before, during, and after delivery, as well as during treatment, to help maintain your blood pressure with the assistance of medications. If this condition happens in the early phase of pregnancy, then the probability of long-term complications for the mother and the child decreases.
Type of preeclampsia
There are two types of preeclampsia, mainly categorised by the severity of the condition. While mild preeclampsia shows symptoms of high blood pressure and proteinuria, severe preeclampsia can show harmful symptoms such as organ damage.Mild Preeclampsia
This type of preeclampsia isn’t as severe and is diagnosed by an increase in blood pressure, specifically, more than 140/90 mmHg. Another symptom experienced during mild preeclampsia is protein concentration in the urine. (proteinuria)Severe Preclampsia
This is more severe for your health, as along with the symptoms of mild preeclampsia, there are other signs of organ damage too. You might experience organ dysfunction, such as kidney and liver damage. The platelet count in your blood also drops, leading to the inability of your body to form clots. Other symptoms include fluid in the lungs, severe headaches or visual impairment.Difference between Preeclampsia and Eclampsia
Eclampsia is a condition which can develop from preeclampsia. The clear difference between the two is that if your preeclampsia leads to seizures, then it's a sign of eclampsia. This is quite severe for the well-being of the mother and child. In rare cases, eclampsia leads to death.Postpartum preeclampsia
It is pretty rare for women to experience preeclampsia after childbirth, and this condition is called postpartum preeclampsia. The symptoms can appear after delivery or take several weeks to develop. You may experience a headache, a swollen face, excessive protein in the urine, and high blood pressure.However, there is no need to be concerned, as this condition can be effectively treated with medications to regulate blood pressure and reduce seizures. It is also necessary to consume drugs which won't negatively impact your ability to breastfeed.
Causes of Preeclampsia
It is rather difficult to pinpoint the exact reason why preeclampsia occurs. There are theories that it begins with the placenta, a crucial pillar during pregnancy, as it supplies nutrients to the baby in the womb. During the early stages of pregnancy, several new blood vessels form to prepare the womb for the delivery of nourishment to the developing fetus.However, preeclampsia interferes with the development of these vessels, leading to disruptions in blood circulation and the accumulation of irregular blood pressure within your capillaries.
High blood pressure disorders during pregnancy
Along with preeclampsia, other conditions can develop too, which revolve around high blood pressure.- Gestational hypertension: When your blood pressure starts rising after the 20th week of pregnancy without any complications, this condition can be the reason. It has been observed that if you have a history of gestational hypertension, then the risk of preeclampsia becomes high during pregnancy.
- Chronic hypertension: If you've a medical history of high blood pressure even before pregnancy, then it can be due to chronic hypertension. Since women with chronic hypertension already have high blood pressure, the chances of them developing preeclampsia are pretty high.
Risk factors associated with preeclampsia include
There are certain factors which contribute to the development of preeclampsia in your body, which include:- First pregnancy: The probability of developing this condition during your first pregnancy is higher than in later pregnancies.
- Family history: If anyone in your family has a medical history of preeclampsia, then there is a solid probability that you'll end up developing it as well.
- Personal history of preeclampsia: If you experienced preeclampsia during the first pregnancy, then the chances of it happening again increase a lot.
- Obesity: Obese women are more susceptible to developing preeclampsia.
- Multiple pregnancies: If you're expecting more than one baby, then the risk of this condition increases significantly.
Symptoms of Preeclampsia
High blood pressure is a prominent symptom of preeclampsia, along with increased protein concentration in the urine and damage to other organs in your body. There are no visible changes in your body, and preeclampsia is mainly detected through regular prenatal visits.Symptoms of preeclampsia are:
- Signs of kidney issues include higher levels of protein in the urine.
- Low platelet levels in the blood can lead to clotting issues.
- Liver problems, such as increased amounts of enzymes being secreted by the liver.
- Severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision.
- Irritation to light sensitivity, temporary loss of sight, and breathing problems due to fluid accumulation in the lungs.
- A sudden increase in weight can be a sign of preeclampsia, even though it is considered healthy during pregnancy.
Diagnosis of preeclampsia
The diagnosis of preeclampsia is relatively simple, and your healthcare professional will require one additional symptom, such as faulty liver function or low platelet count, along with high blood pressure. And high pressure means the range above 140/90 mmHg. There are some tests that your healthcare provider will use to monitor you:- Blood tests: This is necessary to check the functionality of the kidneys and liver, and to determine whether your body is able to form clots.
- Fetal ultrasound: This is used to observe the development of the baby.
- Non-stress test: This test is done to check how the baby reacts to external stimuli. The standard parameter for this test is the baby’s heartbeat rising above 15 beats per minute.
Risks of Untreated Preeclampsia
Ignoring the signs of preeclampsia and not treating it timely can lead to serious complications. The risk of these complications is severe, and you should be particularly attentive to not miss the signs. If preeclampsia is detected early and you're under routine monitoring by healthcare professionals, complications can be prevented.HELLP syndrome
Placental complications
Eclampsia
Organ damage
Cardiovascular disease
Preterm birth
Treating Preeclampsia
There is no cure for Preeclampsia except delivering the baby. With such high blood pressure, the risk of stroke increases significantly. You might also be at the risk of severe bleeding, the placenta getting detached from the uterus and intense seizures. Sometimes preeclampsia develops early on, and in those cases, delivering the baby early isn't the best idea. However, there are other ways to treat preeclampsia, which involve medication, bed rest or delivering the baby early.Medication
If you have experienced preeclampsia in previous pregnancies, then your healthcare professional will monitor you more often. And the medications used to treat this condition are:- Antihypertensives: To lower the blood pressure.
- Anticonvulsants: These are used in serious conditions to prevent seizures.
- Corticosteroids: These drugs are helpful for women who are experiencing the HELLP syndrome, a complication resulting from preeclampsia. These help to develop fetal lungs quickly to support premature delivery.
Early delivery of the baby
Since you're being monitored during pregnancy for preeclampsia, just before delivery, your healthcare professional might advise you to deliver the baby early. The signs of preeclampsia generally fade away within a few weeks after delivery.In some cases, you might have the choice to opt for early delivery, so healthcare professionals might choose to induce labour or perform a cesarean delivery as soon as possible. Medications with magnesium sulphate are prescribed to improve blood flow within the uterus and minimise seizures during labour.
Bed rest
If you haven't approached the end of your gestation period and there are slight symptoms of preeclampsia, then it is advised to take bed rest. This helps to lower the blood pressure and improve blood circulation to the placenta.There are certain cases where the healthcare professionals advise women not to get up and to stay in bed. These are severe cases where women aren't allowed to do any sort of physical activities and need constant monitoring, and perhaps hospitalisation if necessary.
How To Prevent Preeclampsia
There are no ways to altogether avoid preeclampsia, but that doesn't mean you can't take specific steps to minimise the factors which contribute to the development of this condition. There are several ways to maintain healthy blood pressure.- Staying hydrated is necessary for moderating blood pressure. Consume 6-8 glasses of water daily.
- Don't include fried or processed food items in your diet. It would also be helpful to avoid added salt.
- Stay away from alcohol, caffeine and nicotine at all costs since these can negatively impact several functions of your body.
- Make sure you're staying physically active and doing exercises daily. However, don't overwork your body and make sure to give your body time.
These are extremely helpful to regulate moderate blood pressure and lower the risk of preeclampsia. However, you should consult a professional for advice on planning your diet and workout routine.
You can lower the risk of preeclampsia significantly by consuming baby aspirin. If there are risk factors for preeclampsia, then your healthcare professional might prescribe the medication early in your pregnancy. Low dosage of aspirin (75-150 mg) is recommended for women with high risk factors. But, ensure not to take aspirin without proper prescription, as the incorrect dosage of this medicine can thin your blood, leading to complications for yourself and the child.
Despite the severity of preeclampsia, it can be treated, and more importantly, taking specific steps can help you prevent it. It hasn't been possible to pinpoint the exact cause of this condition, but several signs can help you detect preeclampsia early on and get it treated. These symptoms typically include high blood pressure, intense headaches, swelling in the limbs, and high amounts of protein in the urine.
Women who have the risk factor for preeclampsia can opt for preventive measures such as low-dose aspirin and adjusting their lifestyle to minimise the complications. In some cases, preeclampsia can occur even after delivery, so constant monitoring is crucial.
FAQs on Preeclampsia: Here's All You Need To Know
- How severe can preeclampsia be?
Preeclampsia can sometimes lead to situations of absolute emergency. Your blood pressure will be higher than 140/90 mmHg during this condition, and there can be signs of kidney damage, such as protein concentration in the urine. Cardiovascular complications can interfere with the flow of blood to the placenta; therefore, it is advisable to consult your healthcare professional early on to prevent this condition from escalating. - Can preeclampsia complicate your upcoming pregnancies?
Preeclampsia can increase the probability of complications in your upcoming pregnancies. The risk factor increases significantly, so you can try to prevent this with the help of medications such as aspirin or by monitoring your body at regular intervals with healthcare professionals.
