What
is preeclampsia?
How does it occur?
What are the symptoms?
How is it diagnosed?
What is the treatment?
How long will the effects
of preeclampsia last?
When should I call my
health care provider?
What can be done to help
prevent hypertension in pregnancy?
In
this discussion of preeclampsia you will learn
about the effects of high blood pressure during
the late
stages of pregnancy. You will also learn
about the symptoms and treatment of preeclampsia.
What
is preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is
a condition of high blood pressure caused by pregnancy
after the 20th week of pregnancy. Your blood pressure
goes up, you retain water, and protein is found in your
urine. Preeclampsia is also called toxemia
or pregnancy-induced hypertension.
Preeclampsia
may be mild or severe. Severe preeclampsia
affects the mother's blood system, kidneys, brain,
and other organs. Sometimes, but very rarely,
it can cause death. If convulsions occur,
the disease is called eclampsia.
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How
does it occur?
The
cause of preeclampsia is not known. About 8
percent of pregnant women have preeclampsia. It
is more likely to occur during first pregnancies
than later pregnancies and in women less than 25
years old or over 35 years old. Women
who have chronic hypertension, kidney disease
or diabetes,
or who are pregnant with more than one baby,
also have a greater risk of preeclampsia.
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What
are the symptoms?
If
you have mild preeclampsia, you may not have
any symptoms and may feel perfectly well. You
should go to all prenatal checkups so your health
care provider
can spot
the condition quickly if you have it.
Signs
and symptoms of mild preeclampsia include:
. high
blood pressure
. water retention, leading to puffiness of the feet, ankles, hands, and face
(also called edema)
. protein in your urine.
Additional
signs and symptoms of severe preeclampsia include:
. headaches
. blurred vision
. inability to tolerate bright light
. lethargy
. nausea and vomiting
. water retention
. pain in the right upper abdomen
. shortness of breath
How
is it diagnosed?
Your
health care provider will measure your blood
pressure and test your urine at each prenatal
checkup. Certain
blood tests are required to confirm that you have
the condition. In cases where these initial
tests indicate the possibility of preeclampsia,
more blood tests may be needed.
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What
is the treatment?
Your
health care provider may want you to rest in bed,
lying on your left side as much as possible to
take the weight
of the baby off your major blood vessels. Your
health care provider may want you to have more
frequent checkups. Sometimes this is all that is
needed.
If
your symptoms become more severe, you may have
to be admitted to the hospital. You may be given
medication to lower your blood pressure. You
will probably have various tests to check your condition
and the health of the baby. In some cases,
your health care provider may decide to start
your labor and deliver the baby early.
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How
long will the effects of preeclampsia last?
The
symptoms of preeclampsia last until shortly
after the baby is born.
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When
should I call my health care provider?
You
should call your health care provider immediately
if you have:
. blurred
vision
. severe headaches
. abdominal pain
. sudden and excessive weight gain.
What
can be done to help prevent hypertension in
pregnancy?
Currently,
there is no sure way to prevent preeclampsia. Many
factors may contribute to the development of high blood
pressure during pregnancy. Some can be controlled
and some cannot. Follow your health care
provider's instructions for diet and exercise
and practice the
following good health habits to reduce the
risk of hypertension:
. Use
little or no added salt in your meals.
. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day.
. Get enough rest.
. Exercise regularly.
. Rest on your side several times during the day.
. Avoid drinking alcohol and beverages containing caffeine.
