The American Pregnancy Association considers preeclampsia (also known as toxemia) to be one of the most serious medical disorders of human pregnancy. The reason behind this is that it can pose health problems for both the mother and baby. The most common time for preeclampsia to manifest itself is during the second trimester of pregnancy, and at times even up to several days after the delivery.
For the mother, preeclampsia can lead to a variety of health problems which she may not even be aware of. For example: hypertension (high blood pressure), proteinuria (protein leaks into the urine), coagulopathy (blood thinning), and liver dysfunction among others.
At times, preeclampsia can result in convulsions which are serious pregnancy complications that medical professionals refer to as eclampsia. Usually one of the side effects of preeclampsia in pregnancy is that the baby faces growth restrictions that, in turn, make fetal development slow due to oxygen deficiency.
Defining Preeclampsia
Pregnant women are the ones that suffer from preeclampsia. This condition is characterized by high blood pressure combined with high levels of protein found in the urine. Another common characteristic of pregnant women with preeclampsia is that they have swollen hands, feet, and legs.
Preeclampsia usually occurs during the second half of pregnancy, more specifically in the the third trimester. It is also entirely possible that preeclampsia can manifest itself during early pregnancy. A health care provider considers this condition as “pregnancy induced hypertension,” which means it should go away after delivery of the baby.
Preeclampsia and Eclampsia
The condition of “eclampsia” is actually the final and most serious phase. Normally, eclampsia occurs when the condition of preeclampsia in pregnancy remains untreated. One of the most common dangers associated with the condition of eclampsia is the presence of seizures.
Furthermore, if you don’t consult a health care professional, eclampsia can result in a coma and eventually even death of the mother, baby, or even both. This can happen before, during, or even after childbirth. This is the reason why preeclampsia in pregnancy should be taken seriously, and if necessary a second option should be sought from a healthcare professional.
Is Preeclampsia in Pregnancy Common?
Considered to be one of the most common pregnancy complications, preeclampsia in pregnancy occurs in as much as about 10% of pregnant women. The condition normally appears in pregnant women during their first pregnancy.
Unfortunately, some women experience a recurring form of eclampsia which occurs if they get pregnant again. For the more fortunate pregnant women, who do not experience preeclampsia in their first pregnancy, there is little possibility that eclampsia will occur if they get pregnant again.
Health Effects of Preeclampsia
A greater severity in your preeclampsia (especially in early pregnancy) correlates with a higher risk for the mother and the baby. Most women who experience this type of pregnancy complication get the mild version when they are nearing their due date.
With professional medical care, the mother and baby can come out of the pregnancy complication fine. Extremely serious cases, however, result in health problems and negatively impact various organs. Most women who suffer from serious preeclampsia are advised by their health care professional to deliver early to avoid life-threatening health problems.
Preeclampsia in pregnancy can result in constriction of the blood vessels, high blood pressure, and reduced blood flow. Similar to other pregnancy complications it can result in damages to the brain, liver, and kidneys.
Reduced blood flow to the uterus can result in a higher risk for the baby to experience things like growth restriction, poor fetal development, placental abruption, and low amniotic fluid among others. Preterm birth defects may also affect the baby in in event that delivery is done prematurely to protect the health and well being of the mother. Enormous amounts of protein in the urine are caused by the tiny blood vessels in the kidney leaking.
Preeclampsia and Other Pregnancy Complications
Because of the speedy onset of preeclampsia in pregnancy, it is important to be aware of its symptoms. Keep in mind that not all women who experience preeclampsia have dramatic weight gain or obvious swelling. In the same manner that not all pregnant women who rapidly gain weight or have swelling have preeclampsia complications.
Just like fibroids and pregnancy, preeclampsia can manifest some serious symptoms. When these happen it is advisable to consult a medical professional immediately. Some of the warning signs to look out for:
- Persistent and severe headache
- Changes in vision (blurry, double vision, sensitivity to light, etc.)
- Tenderness or intense pain in the upper abdomen
- Vomiting and nausea
Factors that Lead to a Higher Risk of Preeclampsia
With fibroids and pregnancy, the size of the fibroids determines the extent of risk. For ectopic pregnancy, heavy and persistent implantation bleeding usually translates to higher risk. For preeclampsia in pregnancy, factors that may lead to higher risk include:
- Chronic high blood pressure history before pregnancy
- History of preeclampsia in the family
- Obesity or becoming overweight before pregnancy
- Pregnancy with more than one baby
- History of various diseases or disorders like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, kidney disease, and diabetes among others
It should be remembered that the condition is prevalent in first time pregnancies including pregnant teens as well as women who are more than 40 years old. Also remember that only a health care professional can adequately distinguish between ectopic pregnancy signs and other symptoms of pregnancy complications.
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