- What is Pre-eclampsia?
Formerly called toxemia, pre-eclampsia is a condition that pregnant women develop. It is marked by high blood pressure and a high level of protein in the urine. Pre-eclamptic women will often also have swelling in the feet, legs, and hands. This condition usually appears during the second half of pregnancy, often in the latter part of the second or in the third trimesters, although it can occur earlier.
If undiagnosed, pre-eclampsia can lead to eclampsia, a serious condition that can put you and your baby at risk, and in rare cases, cause death. Women with pre-eclampsia who have seizures are considered to have eclampsia.
There's no way to cure pre-eclampsia, and that can be a scary prospect for moms-to-be. But you can help protect yourself by learning the symptoms of pre-eclampsia and by seeing your doctor for regular prenatal care. When pre-eclampsia is caught early, it's easier to manage.
- What Causes Pre-eclampsia?
- Who is at risk for Pre-eclampsia?
Preeclampsia is most often seen in first-time pregnancies, in pregnant teens, and in women over 40. Other risk factors include:
- A history of high blood pressure prior to pregnancy
- A history of preeclampsia
- Having a mother or sister who had preeclampsia
- A history of obesity
- Carrying more than one baby
- History of diabetes, kidney disease, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis
- What are the signs and symptoms of Pre-eclampsia?
In addition to swelling, protein in the urine, and high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia symptoms can include:
- Rapid weight gain caused by a significant increase in bodily fluid
- Abdominal pain
- Severe headaches
- Change in reflexes
- Reduced urine or no urine output
- Dizziness
- Excessive vomiting and nausea
- Vision changes
You should seek care right away if you have:
- Sudden and new swelling in your face, hands, and eyes (some feet and ankle swelling is normal during pregnancy.)
- Blood pressure greater than 140/90.
- Sudden weight gain over 1 or 2 days
- Abdominal pain, especially in the upper right side
- Severe headaches
- A decrease in urine
- Blurry vision, flashing lights, and floaters
You can also have pre-eclampsia and not have any symptoms. That's why it's so important to see your doctor for regular blood pressure checks and urine tests.
- Treatments for Pre-eclampsia
The only cure for pre-eclampsia and eclampsia is to deliver your baby. Your doctor will talk with you about when to deliver based on how far along your baby is, how well your baby is doing in your womb, and the severity of your pre-eclampsia.
If your baby has developed enough, usually by 37 weeks or later, your doctor may want to induce labor or perform a cesarean section. This is will keep pre-eclampsia from getting worse.
If your baby is not close to term, you and your doctor may be able to treat pre-eclampsia until your baby has developed enough to be safely delivered. The closer the birth is to your due date, the better for your baby.
If you have mild pre-eclampsia - also known as preclampsia with and without severe features, your doctor may prescribe:
- Bed rest either at home or in the hospital; you'll be asked to rest mostly on your left side.
- Careful observation with a fetal heart rate monitor and frequent ultrasounds
- Medicines to lower your blood pressure
- Blood and urine tests
Your doctor also may recommend that you stay in the hospital for closer monitoring. In the hospital you may be given:
- Medicine to help prevent seizures, lower your blood pressure, and prevent other problems
- Steroid injections to help your baby's lungs develop more quickly
Other treatments include:
- Magnesium can be injected into the veins to prevent eclampsia-related seizures
- Hydralazine or another anti-hypertensive drug to manage severe blood pressure elevations
- Monitoring fluid intake and urine output
For severe pre-eclampsia, your doctor may need to deliver your baby right away, even if you're not close to term.
After delivery, signs and symptoms of pre-eclampsia should go away within 1 to 6 weeks.
- Effects of Pre-eclampsia on Mother and Baby
Pre-eclampsia can prevent the placenta from receiving enough blood, which can cause your baby to be born very small. It is also one of the leading causes of premature births, and the complications that can follow, including learning disabilities, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, hearing and vision problems.
In moms-to-be, pre-eclampsia can cause rare but serious complications that include:
- Stroke
- Seizure
- Water in the lungs
- Heart failure
- Reversible blindness
- Bleeding from the liver
- Bleeding after you've given birth
Pre-eclampsia can also cause the placenta to suddenly separate from the uterus, which is called placental abruption. This can cause stillbirth.
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