How early can you get preeclampsia
Preeclampsia - Symptoms and causes
Overview
Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy. With preeclampsia, you might have high blood pressure, high levels of protein in urine that indicate kidney damage (proteinuria), or other signs of organ damage. Preeclampsia usually begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy in women whose blood pressure had previously been in the standard range.
Left untreated, preeclampsia can lead to serious — even fatal — complications for both the mother and baby.
Early delivery of the baby is often recommended. The timing of delivery depends on how severe the preeclampsia is and how many weeks pregnant you are. Before delivery, preeclampsia treatment includes careful monitoring and medications to lower blood pressure and manage complications.
Preeclampsia may develop after delivery of a baby, a condition known as postpartum preeclampsia.
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Symptoms
The defining feature of preeclampsia is high blood pressure, proteinuria, or other signs of damage to the kidneys or other organs. You may have no noticeable symptoms. The first signs of preeclampsia are often detected during routine prenatal visits with a health care provider.
Along with high blood pressure, preeclampsia signs and symptoms may include:
- Excess protein in urine (proteinuria) or other signs of kidney problems
- Decreased levels of platelets in blood (thrombocytopenia)
- Increased liver enzymes that indicate liver problems
- Severe headaches
- Changes in vision, including temporary loss of vision, blurred vision or light sensitivity
- Shortness of breath, caused by fluid in the lungs
- Pain in the upper belly, usually under the ribs on the right side
- Nausea or vomiting
Weight gain and swelling (edema) are typical during healthy pregnancies. However, sudden weight gain or a sudden appearance of edema — particularly in your face and hands — may be a sign of preeclampsia.
When to see a doctor
Make sure you attend your prenatal visits so that your health care provider can monitor your blood pressure.
Contact your provider immediately or go to an emergency room if you have severe headaches, blurred vision or other visual disturbances, severe belly pain, or severe shortness of breath.
Because headaches, nausea, and aches and pains are common pregnancy complaints, it's difficult to know when new symptoms are simply part of being pregnant and when they may indicate a serious problem — especially if it's your first pregnancy. If you're concerned about your symptoms, contact your doctor.
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Causes
The exact cause of preeclampsia likely involves several factors. Experts believe it begins in the placenta — the organ that nourishes the fetus throughout pregnancy. Early in a pregnancy, new blood vessels develop and evolve to supply oxygen and nutrients to the placenta.
In women with preeclampsia, these blood vessels don't seem to develop or work properly.
Problems with how well blood circulates in the placenta may lead to the irregular regulation of blood pressure in the mother.
Other high blood pressure disorders during pregnancy
Preeclampsia is one high blood pressure (hypertension) disorder that can occur during pregnancy. Other disorders can happen, too:
- Gestational hypertension is high blood pressure that begins after 20 weeks without problems in the kidneys or other organs. Some women with gestational hypertension may develop preeclampsia.
- Chronic hypertension is high blood pressure that was present before pregnancy or that occurs before 20 weeks of pregnancy. High blood pressure that continues more than three months after a pregnancy also is called chronic hypertension.
- Chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia occurs in women diagnosed with chronic high blood pressure before pregnancy, who then develop worsening high blood pressure and protein in the urine or other health complications during pregnancy.
Risk factors
Conditions that are linked to a higher risk of preeclampsia include:
- Preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy
- Being pregnant with more than one baby
- Chronic high blood pressure (hypertension)
- Type 1 or type 2 diabetes before pregnancy
- Kidney disease
- Autoimmune disorders
- Use of in vitro fertilization
Conditions that are associated with a moderate risk of developing preeclampsia include:
- First pregnancy with current partner
- Obesity
- Family history of preeclampsia
- Maternal age of 35 or older
- Complications in a previous pregnancy
- More than 10 years since previous pregnancy
Other risk factors
Several studies have shown a greater risk of preeclampsia among Black women compared with other women. There's also some evidence of an increased risk among indigenous women in North America.
A growing body of evidence suggests that these differences in risk may not necessarily be based on biology. A greater risk may be related to inequities in access to prenatal care and health care in general, as well as social inequities and chronic stressors that affect health and well-being.
Lower income also is associated with a greater risk of preeclampsia likely because of access to health care and social factors affecting health.
For the purposes of making decisions about prevention strategies, a Black woman or a woman with a low income has a moderately increased risk of developing preeclampsia.
Complications
Complications of preeclampsia may include:
- Fetal growth restriction. Preeclampsia affects the arteries carrying blood to the placenta. If the placenta doesn't get enough blood, the baby may receive inadequate blood and oxygen and fewer nutrients. This can lead to slow growth known as fetal growth restriction.
- Preterm birth.
Preeclampsia may lead to an unplanned preterm birth — delivery before 37 weeks. Also, planned preterm birth is a primary treatment for preeclampsia. A baby born prematurely has increased risk of breathing and feeding difficulties, vision or hearing problems, developmental delays, and cerebral palsy. Treatments before preterm delivery may decrease some risks. - Placental abruption. Preeclampsia increases your risk of placental abruption. With this condition, the placenta separates from the inner wall of the uterus before delivery. Severe abruption can cause heavy bleeding, which can be life-threatening for both the mother and baby.
-
HELLP syndrome. HELLP stands for hemolysis (the destruction of red blood cells), elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count.
This severe form of preeclampsia affects several organ systems. HELLP syndrome is life-threatening to the mother and baby, and it may cause lifelong health problems for the mother.Signs and symptoms include nausea and vomiting, headache, upper right belly pain, and a general feeling of illness or being unwell. Sometimes, it develops suddenly, even before high blood pressure is detected. It also may develop without any symptoms.
-
Eclampsia. Eclampsia is the onset of seizures or coma with signs or symptoms of preeclampsia. It is very difficult to predict whether a patient with preeclampsia will develop eclampsia. Eclampsia can happen without any previously observed signs or symptoms of preeclampsia.
Signs and symptoms that may appear before seizures include severe headaches, vision problems, mental confusion or altered behaviors.
But, there are often no symptoms or warning signs. Eclampsia may occur before, during or after delivery. - Other organ damage. Preeclampsia may result in damage to the kidneys, liver, lung, heart, or eyes, and may cause a stroke or other brain injury. The amount of injury to other organs depends on how severe the preeclampsia is.
- Cardiovascular disease. Having preeclampsia may increase your risk of future heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease. The risk is even greater if you've had preeclampsia more than once or you've had a preterm delivery.
Prevention
Medication
The best clinical evidence for prevention of preeclampsia is the use of low-dose aspirin. Your primary care provider may recommend taking an 81-milligram aspirin tablet daily after 12 weeks of pregnancy if you have one high-risk factor for preeclampsia or more than one moderate-risk factor.
It's important that you talk with your provider before taking any medications, vitamins or supplements to make sure it's safe for you.
Lifestyle and healthy choices
Before you become pregnant, especially if you've had preeclampsia before, it's a good idea to be as healthy as you can be. Talk to your provider about managing any conditions that increase the risk of preeclampsia.
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Symptoms, Causes, Treatments & Prevention
Overview
What is preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a serious blood pressure condition that develops during pregnancy. People with preeclampsia often have high blood pressure (hypertension) and high levels of protein in their urine (proteinuria). Preeclampsia typically develops after the 20th week of pregnancy. It can also affect other organs in the body and be dangerous for both the mom and her developing fetus. Because of these risks, preeclampsia needs to be treated by a healthcare provider.
What happens when you have preeclampsia?
When you have preeclampsia, your blood pressure is elevated (higher than 140/90 mmHg), and you may have high levels of protein in your urine.
Preeclampsia puts stress on your heart and other organs and can cause serious complications. It can also affect the blood supply to your placenta, impair liver and kidney function or cause fluid to build up in your lungs. The protein in your urine is a sign of kidney dysfunction.
How common is preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a condition unique to pregnancy that complicates up to 8% of all deliveries worldwide. In the United States, it's the cause of about 15% of premature deliveries (delivery before 37 weeks of pregnancy).
Who gets preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia may be more common in first-time mothers. Healthcare providers are not entirely sure why some people develop preeclampsia. Some factors that may put you at a higher risk are:
- History of high blood pressure, kidney disease or diabetes.
- Expecting multiples.
- Family history of preeclampsia.
- Autoimmune conditions like lupus.
- Obesity.
Symptoms and Causes
What are the symptoms?
Many people with preeclampsia do not have any symptoms.
For those that do, some of the first signs of preeclampsia are high blood pressure, protein in the urine and retaining water (this can cause weight gain and swelling).
Other signs of preeclampsia include:
- Headaches.
- Blurry vision or light sensitivity.
- Dark spots appearing in your vision.
- Right side abdominal pain.
- Swelling in your hands and face (edema).
- Shortness of breath.
It's essential to share all of your pregnancy symptoms with your healthcare provider. Many people are unaware they have preeclampsia until their blood pressure and urine are checked at a prenatal appointment.
Severe preeclampsia may include symptoms like:
- Hypertensive emergency (blood pressure is 160/110 mmHg or higher).
- Decreased kidney or liver function.
- Fluid in the lungs.
- Low blood platelet levels (thrombocytopenia).
- Decreased urine production
If your preeclampsia is severe, you may be admitted to the hospital for closer observation or need to deliver your baby as soon as possible.
Your healthcare provider may give you medications for high blood pressure or to help the fetus's lungs develop before delivery.
What causes preeclampsia?
No one is entirely sure. Preeclampsia is believed to come from a problem with the health of the placenta (the organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy and is responsible for providing oxygen and nutrients to the fetus). The blood supply to the placenta might be decreased in preeclampsia, and this can lead to problems with both you and the fetus.
Does stress cause preeclampsia?
While stress may impact blood pressure, stress is not one of the direct causes of preeclampsia. While some stress is unavoidable during pregnancy, avoiding high-stress situations or learning to manage your stress is a good idea.
What week of pregnancy does preeclampsia start?
Preeclampsia typically occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy, but it can come earlier. Most preeclampsia occurs at or near term (37 weeks gestation).
Preeclampsia can also come after delivery (postpartum preeclampsia), which usually occurs between the first few days to one week after delivery. In rare cases, it begins weeks after delivery.
Will preeclampsia affect my baby?
Preeclampsia can cause preterm delivery (your baby needing delivered early). Premature babies are at increased risk for health complications like low birth weight and respiratory issues.
Diagnosis and Tests
How is it diagnosed?
Preeclampsia is often diagnosed during routine prenatal appointments when your healthcare provider checks your weight gain, blood pressure and urine.
If preeclampsia is suspected, your healthcare provider may:
- Order additional blood tests to check kidney and liver functions.
- Suggest a 24-hour urine collection to watch for proteinuria.
- Perform an ultrasound and other fetal monitoring to look at the size of the fetus and assess the amniotic fluid volume.
Preeclampsia can be categorized as mild or severe.
You may be diagnosed with mild preeclampsia if you have high blood pressure plus high levels of protein in your urine.
You are diagnosed with severe preeclampsia if you have symptoms of mild preeclampsia plus:
- Signs of kidney or liver damage (seen in blood work).
- Low platelet count
- Fluid in your lungs.
- Headaches and dizziness.
- Visual impairment or seeing spots.
Management and Treatment
How is preeclampsia treated?
Your healthcare provider will advise you on the best way to treat preeclampsia. Treatment generally depends on how severe your preeclampsia is and how far along you are in pregnancy.
If you're close to full term (37 weeks pregnant or greater), your baby will probably be delivered early. You can still have a vaginal delivery, but sometimes a Cesarean delivery (C-section) is recommended. Your healthcare provider may give you medication to help the fetus's lungs develop and manage your blood pressure until the baby can be delivered.
Sometimes it is safer to deliver the baby early than to risk prolonging the pregnancy.
When preeclampsia develops earlier in pregnancy, you'll be monitored closely in an effort to prolong the pregnancy and allow for the fetus to grow and develop. You'll have more prenatal appointments, including ultrasounds, urine tests and blood draws. You may be asked to check your blood pressure at home. If you are diagnosed with severe preeclampsia, you could remain in the hospital until you deliver your baby.
If the preeclampsia worsens or becomes more severe, your baby will need to be delivered.
During labor and following delivery, people with preeclampsia are often given magnesium intravenously (directly into the vein) to prevent the development of eclampsia (seizures from preeclampsia).
Is there a cure for preeclampsia?
No, there isn't a cure for preeclampsia. Preeclampsia can only be cured with delivery. Your healthcare provider will still want to monitor you for several weeks after delivery to make sure your symptoms go away.
Prevention
How can I reduce my risk of getting preeclampsia?
For people with risk factors, there are some steps that can be taken prior to and during pregnancy to lower the chance of developing preeclampsia. These steps can include:
- Losing weight if you have overweight/obesity (prior to pregnancy-related weight gain).
- Controlling your blood pressure and blood sugar (if you had high blood pressure or diabetes prior to pregnancy).
- Maintaining a regular exercise routine.
- Getting enough sleep.
- Eating healthy foods that are low in salt and avoiding caffeine.
Can you prevent preeclampsia?
Taking a baby aspirin daily has been demonstrated to decrease your risk of developing preeclampsia by approximately 15%. If you have risk factors for preeclampsia, your healthcare provider may recommend starting aspirin in early pregnancy (by 12 weeks gestation).
Outlook / Prognosis
What are the most common complications of preeclampsia?
If left untreated, preeclampsia can be potentially fatal to both you and the fetus.
Before delivery, the most common complications are preterm birth, low birth weight or placental abruption.
Preeclampsia can cause HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count). This happens when preeclampsia damages your liver and red blood cells and interferes with blood clotting. Other signs of HELLP syndrome are blurry vision, chest pain, headaches and nosebleeds.
After you've delivered your baby, you may be at an increased risk for:
- Kidney disease.
- Heart attack.
- Stroke.
- Developing preeclampsia in future pregnancies.
Does preeclampsia go away after delivery?
Preeclampsia typically goes away within days to weeks following delivery. Sometimes, your blood pressure can remain high for a few weeks after delivery, requiring treatment with medication. Your healthcare provider will work with you after your pregnancy to manage your blood pressure. People with preeclampsia — particularly those who develop the condition early in pregnancy — are at greater risk for high blood pressure (hypertension) and heart disease later in life.
Knowing this information, those individuals can work with their primary care provider to take steps to reduce these risks.
Living With
When should I see my healthcare provider?
Preeclampsia can be a fatal condition during pregnancy. If you're being treated for this condition, make sure to see your healthcare provider for all of your appointments and blood or urine tests. Contact your obstetrician if you have any concerns or questions about your symptoms.
Go to the nearest hospital if you're pregnant and experience the following:
- Symptoms of a seizure-like twitching or convulsing.
- Shortness of breath.
- Sharp pain in your abdomen (specifically the right side).
- Blurry vision.
- Severe headache that won't go away.
- Dark spots in your vision that don't go away.
What questions should I ask my doctor?
If your healthcare provider has diagnosed you with preeclampsia, it's normal to have concerns.
Some common questions to ask your healthcare provider are:
- Do I need to take medication?
- Do I need to restrict my activities?
- What changes should I make to my diet?
- How often will you need to monitor my health during pregnancy?
- Will I need to deliver my baby early?
- How can I best manage preeclampsia?
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between preeclampsia and eclampsia?
Eclampsia is severe preeclampsia that causes seizures. It's considered a complication of preeclampsia, but it can happen without signs of preeclampsia. In rare cases, it can lead to coma, stroke or death.
What is postpartum preeclampsia?
Postpartum preeclampsia is when you develop preeclampsia after your baby is born. It typically happens within two days of giving birth but can also develop several weeks later. The signs of postpartum preeclampsia are similar to preeclampsia and include swelling in your limbs and extremities, headaches, seeing spots, stomach pains and nausea.
It's a serious condition that can cause seizures, stroke and organ damage.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Preeclampsia is a serious condition that you may not be aware you even have. It's important to go to all your prenatal appointments and be open about all the symptoms you feel during pregnancy. When preeclampsia is caught early, it can be treated and managed to keep both you and the fetus safe and healthy. Most people with preeclampsia go on to have healthy babies.
Preeclampsia during pregnancy
Preeclampsia in pregnancy
What is preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a serious blood pressure disorder that can occur after the 20th week of pregnancy or after childbirth (called postpartum preeclampsia). This is when a woman has high blood pressure and signs that some of her organs, such as her kidneys and liver, are malfunctioning.
Blood pressure is the force with which blood presses against the walls of the arteries.
Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body. High blood pressure (also called hypertension) occurs when the pressure of blood against the walls of blood vessels is too high. This can be stressful for your heart and cause problems during pregnancy.
Pre-eclampsia is a serious health problem for pregnant women. It affects 2 to 8 percent of pregnant women worldwide. It is also the cause of 15% of preterm births. A preterm birth is a birth that occurs too early, before 37 weeks of gestation.
Diagnosis of preeclampsia during pregnancy
Most women with preeclampsia give birth to healthy babies. But if left untreated, it can cause serious health problems for you and your baby.
Causes of preeclampsia
The exact cause of preeclampsia is likely related to several factors. Experts believe it begins in the placenta, the organ that nourishes the fetus throughout pregnancy.
During early pregnancy, new blood vessels form and develop to supply the placenta with oxygen and nutrients.
Make an appointment with a gynecologist ►
In women with preeclampsia, these blood vessels do not develop and function properly. Problems with blood circulation in the placenta can lead to irregular regulation of blood pressure in the mother.
Risk factors for preeclampsia
Conditions that are associated with a higher risk of preeclampsia include:
-
Preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy
-
Pregnancy with more than one child
-
Chronic high blood pressure (hypertension)
-
Type 1 or 2 before pregnancy
-
kidney disease
-
Autoimmune diseases
-
Use of extracurporeal fertilization (ECO)
9,0002 that are associated with a moderate risk of preeclampsia include:
-
First pregnancy with current partner
-
Obesity
-
Family history of preeclampsia
-
Mother's age 35 years and older than
-
Complications in the previous pregnancy
-
more than 10 years after the previous pregnancy
-
Symptoms of pre-eclampsia during pregnancy
What are the signs and symptoms of preeclampsia?
Signs of illness are things that someone else might notice about you, such as having a rash or coughing.
Symptoms are what you feel yourself that others don't see, such as a sore throat or dizziness.
Signs and symptoms of pre-eclampsia include:
-
Changes in vision such as blurring, flashing lights and spots, or sensitivity to light.
-
Headache, which does not pass
-
Nausea (feeling of nausea in the stomach), vomiting or dizziness
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Pain in the upper abdomen
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sudden increase in weight
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of the legs, hands, swelling or persons
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Difficulty breathing
-
Severe vomiting and nausea
Many of these signs and symptoms are common discomforts during pregnancy. If you have even one sign or symptom, call your doctor right away.
How can preeclampsia affect you and your baby?
Without treatment, preeclampsia can cause serious health problems for you and your baby, including death. You can have preeclampsia even if you don't know it, so be sure to attend all prenatal checkups, even if you feel well.
Tell your doctor if you have any signs or symptoms of preeclampsia.
-
Fetal growth restriction
Preeclampsia affects the arteries that carry blood to the placenta. If the placenta does not receive enough blood, the baby may not receive enough blood and oxygen and fewer nutrients. This can lead to growth retardation, known as fetal growth retardation. -
Preterm birth
Preeclampsia can lead to unplanned preterm birth - delivery before 37 weeks. In addition, planned preterm birth is the main treatment for preeclampsia. A premature baby is at increased risk of breathing and feeding difficulties, vision or hearing problems, developmental delays, and cerebral palsy. Treatment before preterm labor may reduce some of the risks. -
Placental abruption
Preeclampsia increases the risk of placental abruption. In this condition, the placenta separates from the inner wall of the uterus before delivery.
A severe detachment can cause severe bleeding, which can be life-threatening for both mother and baby. -
HELLP syndrome
HELLP stands for hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells), elevated liver enzymes and low platelets. This severe form of preeclampsia affects multiple organ systems. HELLP syndrome is life threatening for mother and baby and can cause lifelong health problems for the mother. Signs and symptoms include nausea and vomiting, headache, pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, and general malaise or feeling unwell. Sometimes it develops suddenly, even before high blood pressure is detected. It can also develop without any symptoms.
Treatment of preeclampsia
-
Eclampsia
Eclampsia is the onset of seizures or coma with signs or symptoms of preeclampsia. It is very difficult to predict whether a patient with preeclampsia will develop eclampsia.
Eclampsia can occur without any previously observed signs or symptoms of preeclampsia. Signs and symptoms that may occur before seizures include severe headaches, vision problems, confusion, or altered behavior. But often there are no symptoms or warning signs. Eclampsia can occur before, during, or after childbirth.
-
Other organ damage
Pre-eclampsia can cause damage to the kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, or eyes, as well as stroke or other brain damage. The extent of damage to other organs depends on how severe the preeclampsia is. -
Cardiovascular disease
Having preeclampsia can increase your risk of future heart and blood vessel disease (cardiovascular disease). The risk is even higher if you have had preeclampsia more than once or have had a preterm birth.
Treatment for preeclampsia
The only cure for preeclampsia and eclampsia is to give birth.
Your doctor will discuss with you when to give birth, depending on how your baby has developed, how well your baby is doing in your womb, and the severity of your preeclampsia.
If your baby is growing well, usually by 37 weeks or later, your doctor may order induction of labor or a caesarean section. This will prevent preeclampsia from worsening.
If your baby is not yet due, you and your doctor can treat mild preeclampsia until your baby is mature enough to deliver safely. The closer your due date is, the better for your baby.
If you have mild preeclampsia, also known as preeclampsia without severe symptoms, your doctor may prescribe:
-
Bed rest at home or in the hospital; rest mainly on the left side
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Careful monitoring of the fetal heart rate and frequent ultrasounds
-
Blood pressure medicines
-
Blood and urine tests
Your doctor may also recommend that you stay in the hospital so they can monitor you closely.
At the hospital, you can get:
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Medicine to help prevent seizures, lower blood pressure, and prevent other problems.
-
Steroid injections to speed up your child's lung development
Other treatments include:
If you have severe preeclampsia, your doctor may need to deliver you immediately, even if you are not close to your due date. Thereafter, symptoms of preeclampsia should resolve within 1 to 6 weeks, but may persist for longer.
Diagnosis of preeclampsia in pregnant women
Diagnosis of preeclampsia
You have preeclampsia if you have high blood pressure and at least one of the following:
-
There is too much protein in the urine
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None of blood platelets
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High level of chemicals associated with kidneys, in the blood
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High level of chemicals associated with the liver, in the blood
- 5555555555555
Fluid in the lungs
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New headache that doesn't get better with medication
Your doctor may order tests to confirm your diagnosis, including:
-
Blood tests to check platelets and look for chemicals in the kidneys or liver.
-
Urinalysis to measure proteins
-
Ultrasounds, non-stress tests, or biophysical profiles to see how your child is growing
Prevention of preeclampsia
lifestyle that will help keep you healthy. You may need:
-
Lose weight, if you have overweight
-
, stop smoking
-
regularly play sports
-
Control blood pressure or blood sugar level
Your doctor can also recommend that you take a small one dose (81 milligrams) of aspirin every day. But do not take any medications, vitamins, or nutritional supplements without first talking to them.
Can low-dose aspirin help reduce the risk of preeclampsia and preterm birth?
For some women, yes. If your healthcare provider thinks you are at risk for preeclampsia, they may ask you to take low doses of aspirin to help prevent it. Low-dose aspirin is also called baby aspirin or 81 mg (milligram) aspirin.
Talk to your doctor to see if low-dose aspirin treatment is right for you.
If your doctor wants you to take low-dose aspirin to prevent preeclampsia, take it exactly as he tells you to. Do not take more or more often than your doctor tells you to.
If you have preeclampsia, can you give birth naturally?
Yes. If you have preeclampsia, a vaginal delivery may be better than a caesarean section (also called a caesarean section). A caesarean section is an operation in which your baby is delivered through an incision the doctor makes in the abdomen and uterus. With vaginal delivery, there is no stress from the operation. For most women with preeclampsia, epidural anesthesia is safe to relieve the pain of childbirth. An epidural is a pain medication given through a tube in the lower back to help relieve pain in the lower body during childbirth. This is the most common type of pain relief during childbirth.
Prevention of pre-eclampsia
What is postpartum preeclampsia?
Postpartum preeclampsia is a rare condition.
This is when you have preeclampsia after giving birth. It most often occurs within 48 hours (2 days) after the baby is born, but can develop up to 6 weeks after the baby is born. It is as dangerous as preeclampsia during pregnancy and requires immediate treatment. If left untreated, it can cause life-threatening problems, including death.
The signs and symptoms of postpartum preeclampsia are the same as those of preeclampsia. It may be difficult for you to know if you have signs and symptoms after pregnancy because you are focused on caring for your baby. If you have signs or symptoms, tell your doctor right away.
We don't know exactly what causes postpartum preeclampsia, but these could be possible risk factors:
-
You had gestational hypertension or preeclampsia during pregnancy. Gestational hypertension is high blood pressure that starts after 20 weeks of pregnancy and resolves after childbirth
-
Obesity
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You had a cesarean section
Complications of postpartum preeclampsia include the following life-threatening conditions:
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Hellp-syndrome
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Eclapsy eclapsy (celly).
This can cause permanent damage to our brain, liver and kidneys. It can also cause coma. -
Pulmonary edema. This is when fluid fills the lungs.
-
Stroke
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Thromboembolism. This is when a blood clot travels from another part of the body and blocks a blood vessel.
Your doctor uses blood and urine tests to diagnose postpartum preeclampsia. Treatment may include magnesium sulfate to prevent seizures and medications to lower blood pressure. A medicine to prevent seizures is also called an anticonvulsant medicine. If you are breastfeeding, talk to your doctor to make sure these medicines are safe for your baby.
general medicineVIVI.clinic Gynecology, gynecologist, pregnancy management, gynec11 Comment
Treatment and prevention of preeclampsia in EMC
Preeclampsia, or severe preeclampsia, is a complication that occurs in approximately 4-5% of women during pregnancy.
Pathology arises in the first trimester, and clinical manifestations occur most often after the 20th week.
Symptoms of preeclampsia
The key symptoms are high blood pressure (hypertension), excessive accumulation of fluid in the body (edema) and impaired kidney function (proteinuria). In addition, there are symptoms that may indirectly indicate the presence of preeclampsia - a sharp significant weight gain, headaches, nausea, blurred vision.
Causes of preeclampsia
To date, science does not know the true cause of preeclampsia. However, there are relative signs that may indicate a woman's tendency to develop this condition.
Risk factors:
- under 19 or over 40;
- multiple pregnancy;
- chronic comorbidities, eg diabetes mellitus;
- high blood pressure before pregnancy;
- Pre-eclampsia in previous pregnancies;
- pathologies of the heart and blood vessels;
- heredity - the most recent research has identified a genetic factor in the predisposition to preeclampsia.
Classification of pre-eclampsia
There are several degrees of preeclampsia: mild, moderate and severe.
The severity is determined by several parameters (the so-called Zangemeister triad) - blood pressure, protein concentration in the urine and the degree of swelling.
We can talk about a mild degree with a small concentration of protein in the urine (up to 0.3 g / l), arterial pressure of 130-140 mm Hg. Art. and minor swelling.
The average degree is manifested by more serious symptoms: complications from the urinary system, protein concentration in the urine over 0.3 g/l and an increase in blood pressure up to 140/90-160/100.
Severe pre-eclampsia is characterized not only by worsening of the Zanggemeister triad (blood pressure above 160, high levels of protein in the urine and severe edema), but also by other associated complications, including headaches, blurred vision, heart and kidney failure in a woman, anemia, a decrease in the number platelets in the blood, fetal growth and developmental delay
A doctor may suspect a severe form even with minor changes in pressure and a small concentration of protein in the urine.
For example, if an ultrasound scan reveals fetal malnutrition - a discrepancy between the weight and development of the fetus and the gestational age.
Diagnosis and prevention of preeclampsia in the EMC clinic
Early diagnosis of gestosis of pregnant women allows to stop complications. The EMC clinic is equipped with everything necessary for the comprehensive diagnosis of preeclampsia - a laboratory complex where you can perform any type of analysis, radiation (ultrasound, CT, MRI) and functional diagnostics (CTG) departments, comfortable modern hospitals. If necessary, you can get advice from doctors of any specialty and medical consultations.
We recommend that all pregnant women from an early date regularly visit an obstetrician-gynecologist and undergo examinations: measuring blood pressure, determining the level of protein in the urine, monitoring the dynamics of weight gain, coagulogram, complete blood count, ultrasound of the internal organs and the fetus throughout pregnancy.
In the first trimester, it is necessary to undergo screening: the presence or absence of a specific protein will show the woman's predisposition to the development of preeclampsia. If necessary, an obstetrician-gynecologist can prescribe consultations of doctors of related specialties - a general practitioner, hematologist, ophthalmologist, endocrinologist, cardiologist and others. These are specialists who help to conduct a comprehensive diagnosis and reduce the risks of severe cases of preeclampsia. In the second trimester, it is recommended to undergo ultrasound screening to make sure that the development and growth of the baby is in line with the deadline. After 30 weeks, a pregnant woman should regularly come to the clinic for ultrasound, CTG and dopplerometry. In the presence of a genetic predisposition to preeclampsia, diseases of the cardiovascular, hematopoietic, endocrine systems, respiratory diseases and other pathologies, the patient will be managed not only by an obstetrician-gynecologist, but also by doctors of other specialties.
