Pre-eclampsia
Pre-eclampsia, or pregnancy induced hypertension as it’s also known, is a form of high blood pressure that occurs during pregnancy or immediately after labor.
If left untreated, it can develop into eclampsia – a dangerous condition for both mom and baby, which can lead to seizures, coma, damage to the central nervous system and oxygen deprivation for the baby. Pre-eclampsia normally strikes in the final trimester of pregnancy, and may occur from around 20 weeks.
What are the symptoms of pre-eclampsia?
High blood pressure is one of the symptoms and even if steps are taken to control this it doesn’t meant the pre-eclampsia is cured – only controlled. Other symptoms are protein in the urine and fluid retention, which causes swelling. If you notice any of the following symptoms, you should seek medical advice immediately:
- Sudden swelling of your face, hands, feet or ankles.
- Excessive weight gain.
- Acute headaches.
- Blurred vision or flashes of light in front of your eyes.
- Severe abdominal pain.
- Scanty urine output.
- Irritability.
If you experience any of these symptoms, call your caregiver straightaway. It’s likely you’ll be admitted into hospital for tests to assess your condition.
Who develops pre-eclampsia?
It’s still unclear why some women develop pre-eclampsia, although some do seem to be more at risk than others. If you belong to any of the following groups, you may be high risk:
- You have a family history of pre-eclampsia.
- It’s your first pregnancy or your first in over a decade.
- You’re either a teenager or over the age of 40.
- You’re carrying multiple babies.
- You’re obese or have a pre-existing medical condition such as diabetes, kidney disease or high blood pressure.
- You had pre-eclampsia in a previous pregnancy.
What happens if I have pre-eclampsia?
The only way of curing you of this condition is to deliver your baby, but your caregivers will want to try to manage your condition for as long as they safely can, until a delivery can take place at about 36 weeks. You may have to have complete bed rest in hospital for the remainder of your pregnancy, to help lower your blood pressure and to allow for monitoring. New research suggests that antioxidants contained in vitamin C (oranges), vitamin E (avocadoes), selenium (brazil nuts, fish, eggs), and lycopene (tomatoes) can reduce the chance of pregnant women developing pre-eclampsia. See gurgle’s healthy diet for pregnancy for more nutritional pointers.
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.
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Last Modified: 06/07/2007
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