Congratulations on your pregnancy. You have been to your first midwife appointment and you have been told about all of the things you should look out for. One of these is preeclampsia. You have heard about it before but don't undoubtedly know what it is. Well today I am going to talk about preeclampsia, the causes and risks, signs and symptoms of preeclampsia, management of preeclampsia and complications of preeclampsia so that you fully understand the point of looking out for the warning signs. I can talk first hand about preeclampsia as I had it while my first pregnancy.
Preeclampsia is a common, but potentially life threatening complication of pregnancy. It is characterised by high blood pressure, protein in the urine and disturbances in vision. Preeclampsia occurs most often in late pregnancy and affects around 5 to 10% of pregnant women. In very rare instances it occurs after pregnancy. Up to 10% of women with preeclampsia will establish the severe form of the disease. It is estimated that around 200 babies in Australia die because of preeclampsia each year. Women with preeclampsia with uncontrolled high blood pressure are likely to deliver their baby early, either by vaginal or caesarean section. The baby is premature and may need laberious care and the mother may be in a serious condition.
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Risk Factors For Preeclampsia
* Assisted reproduction.
* barrier methods of contraception.
* First pregnancy or first pregnancy with a new partner.
* History of diabetes.
* proximity of essential hypertension (high blood pressure).
* previous kidney disease.
* adolescent mothers and women over 35 year of age.
* Twins or more.
* History of Lupus.
Preeclampsia is tasteless but difficult to predict. Screening tests while early pregnancy are not definite therefore health care professionals have to 'wait and see' if the woman develops preeclampsia. Disposition antenatal blood pressure monitoring and urinalysis can help screening for preeclampsia. It is very leading that you attend all of your antenatal appointments.
A pathology of preeclampsia is made when blood pressure at 20 weeks gestation or more is 140/90 mmHg or higher over 3 or more consecutive readings. Severe preeclampsia occurs when successive blood pressure readings exceed 160/110 mmHg with or without essential protein in the urine.
Pregnant women experiencing preeclampsia are likely to complain of a headache and possibly a distinctive pain under the ribs. This is referred pain from the liver. Abdominal swelling puts pressure on the liver and kidneys. Protein is also usually gift in the urine and the face and ankles can swell. The fetus may stop growing which is a sign that the placenta is not functioning properly.
If you are found to have slightly high blood pressure while your pregnancy then oral antihypertensive drugs are given in the absence of any other symptoms. A one-off high reading may require a short stay in hospital to check if subsequent readings are also high. The woman is most likely admitted to hospital if the other signs and symptoms are present. Decisions will then be made about the timing of the delivery. The only cure is to deliver the baby which finally could supervene in complications of premature birth.
High blood pressure is a essential qoute while delivery. Delivery is undertaken if the mother is vomiting, has increased liver pain or if she is ordinarily worsening in condition. A caesarean section is performed when gestation is roughly 34 weeks or earlier and a vaginal delivery is preferred later in the pregnancy but only if the blood pressure is controlled and the baby is in good health.
Preeclampsia signs can persist for as long as 3 months after birth but usually disappear entirely in most women.
If preeclampsia is left untreated the blood pressure can become so high that the woman is at increased risk of seizures. Symptoms of preeclampsia are right upper abdominal pain, headache, disturbance in foresight and alteration in mental state. Permanent injury to the brain, liver and kidneys have been reported in uncontrolled preeclampsia. Reduced placental blood flow leads to less oxygen and nutrient provide to the baby. Fetal growth slows and a preterm delivery is related with breathing difficulties for the baby when it is born.
I hope this narrative has made you aware of the signs and symptoms to look out for and the point of getting treatment as soon as inherent for the security of your baby and your own health. Good luck in your pregnancy.
What Is Preeclampsia?
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