Preeclampsia is one of the more severe disorders during pregnancy that your doctor will screen you for. You may not even know it or what it even is! It is a condition that can be life threatening to you and your baby so it is a good idea to know a little about it and what to watch out for.
What is Preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a condition during pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure and damage to one other organ system, such as the liver or the kidneys. It usually begins during the second half of pregnancy. A result for high blood pressure is anything over 140/90 but it is important to note that if you usually have low blood pressure, anything over 120/80 might be considered high. My blood pressure runs anywhere from 90-100/60-70 so an increase to 120/80 is noteworthy.
What are the Symptoms of Preeclampsia?
At stated above, high blood pressure is typically the first sign of preeclampsia. At each prenatal appointment, the doctor always checks your blood pressure and performs a urinalysis. A urinalysis can tell the doctor a lot about what is going on inside you-infection, diabetes, preeclampsia, kidney issues, etc. If there is protein in the patient’s urine, paired with high blood pressure that typically means that preeclampsia is on your doctor’s radar.
Other symptoms include: headaches, sensitivity to light or blurred vision, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, decreased urine output, thrombocytopenia (decreased platelet count), impaired liver function and shortness of breath. A sudden weight gain caused by fluid retention or swelling, especially of the hands and face can also be a sign.
What Causes Preeclampsia?
The placenta is an organ that develops during pregnancy to nourish and oxygenate your baby during pregnancy. It is believed that this is where preeclampsia also develops. In women with preeclampsia the blood vessels to the placenta are typically narrower and less functioning than women who are not afflicted. The blood vessels also react differently to the hormones that your body signals, making them less efficient.
Who is at Risk for Preeclampsia?
There are certain risk factors for preeclampsia. A woman with a history or family history of preeclampsia is at an increased risk for developing it in the future. Chronic high blood pressure can also increase your risk. The risk of preeclampsia is greater during your first pregnancy than subsequent pregnancies and also a pregnancy with a new paternity is at an increased risk. Age can be a factor as well. Someone who is very young or over 40 during pregnancy is at an increased risk. Obesity, multiples birth, diabetes, migraines, kidney disease and lupus are other mitigating factors that may increase the risk of preeclampsia.
Having your babies close together, typically less than two years, can increase your risk of preeclampsia but so can having them more than ten years apart. Couples who rely on invitro fertilization and implantation are at a higher risk as well.
What are Some of the Complications of Preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia restricts blood that flows to the uterus causing your baby to receive fewer nutrients and may cause growth impairment. Preterm birth is also a common complication of preeclampsia. Doctors often have to deliver babies by cesarean section to necessitate a speedy delivery in the case of severe preeclampsia. There is an increased risk of placental abruption, or premature detachment of the placenta from the uterine wall. This can cause heavy bleeding and be very dangerous to the mother and the baby. This is characterized by, of course, heavy bleeding, and severe lower abdominal pain.
HELLP syndrome is a more severe form of preeclampsia and is characterized by hemolysis of blood cells, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count. Symptoms of HELLP include nausea, vomiting, headache and upper right abdominal pain. Eclampsia, or preeclampsia with seizures, may develop and will generally result in delivery of the baby regardless of how far along the pregnancy is as it is incredibly life threatening for mother and baby. Preeclampsia can also cause other organ damage such as liver, kidney, heart, eyes or brain and can be an indicator of future cardiovascular disease.
Is There Anything I Can Do to Prevent Preeclampsia?
In short, there really isn’t. If certain risk factors are met or you have a history of severe preeclampsia, your doctor may prescribe a low dose (60-81 mg) of aspirin daily. There have been indications that in women with severe calcium deficiency, taking calcium supplements can decrease the risk, however, in the United States it is unlikely that women will have that severe of a calcium deficiency.
Do not take any medications or supplements without first talking to your doctor.
Preeclampsia is a serious condition during pregnancy and it is important that you attend all prenatal visits in order to allow your doctor to screen for it. If you are at risk for developing preeclampsia it is a good idea to try to be as healthy as you can before becoming pregnant. By losing weight and making sure diabetes or high blood pressure is well managed, you can go into your pregnancy as prepared as you can.
Detecting preeclampsia as early as possible is vital for you and your doctor to come up with a plan of care that protects you and your baby from complications and keeps you safe during your pregnancy.
