Preeclampsia

This is a pregnancy complication that occurs usually after 20 weeks of pregnancy in women who have had normal range previously. It is known as preeclampsia and when it happens people can experience hypertension (high blood pressure), kidney damage (proteinuria), and other organ damage symptoms. In case you ignore this condition, it may lead to serious even fatal complications for both you and your baby.

Commonly, early delivery is advised by doctors for people with this condition. The delivery timing depends on the severity of the preeclampsia. Moreover, before early delivery, you may receive some treatments that will help to reduce blood pressure and manage complications. Additionally, some people may experience postpartum preeclampsia (preeclampsia that occurs after delivery).

Symptoms

The main symptoms of this condition are hypertension, proteinuria, or other organ damage symptoms. In most cases, first preeclampsia signs are identified during routine prenatal checkups with your doctor. Check below for other preeclampsia symptoms:

Reduced platelet levels in the blood (thrombocytopenia)
Elevated liver enzymes
Severe headaches (migraines)
Vision changes (including temporary loss of vision, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and others)
Breathing problems (usually occur due to fluid in the lungs)
Nausea
Vomiting
Pain in the upper belly

Furthermore, weight gain and swelling (edema) usually are common symptoms during healthy pregnancies. However, if you experience sudden edema in the face and hands and sudden weight gain, maybe you have preeclampsia.

When Should I Visit My Healthcare Professional?

In case you experience any of the following symptoms, immediately go to the nearest emergency room (ER) or contact your healthcare provider. For example vision problems, severe abdominal pain, severe shortness of breath, blurred vision, or migraines.

Causes

Experts think there are several factors that contribute to or provoke this condition. One of them seems to begin in the placenta (an organ that nourishes the fetus during pregnancy with nutrients and oxygen). In normal circumstances, new blood vessels develop to supply nutrients and oxygen to the placenta. In people with preeclampsia, these blood vessels may not work properly which leads to increased blood pressure in the mother. Check below other hypertension disorders that can occur during pregnancy:

Gestational hypertension – It usually occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy and does not cause any problems to the kidneys or other organs. Moreover, not every woman with gestational hypertension develops preeclampsia.
Chronic hypertension – In such cases, hypertension happens before pregnancy or before 20 weeks of pregnancy. Hypertension is considered chronic if it lasts more than 90 days continuously.
Chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia – This hypertension type usually occurs before pregnancy in a woman with chronic hypertension. It usually provokes proteinuria and other complications.

Risk Factors

The following factors may contribute to preeclampsia. Examples include:

Being pregnant more times
Preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy
Type 1 or type 2 diabetes during pregnancy
Hypertension (chronic high blood pressure)
Kidney disease
Autoimmune conditions
Use of in vitro fertilization

Check below some health conditions that also can increase the risk of preeclampsia:

Previous pregnancy complications
Passed more than 10 years since the previous pregnancy
Women older than 35 years old
Family history of preeclampsia
Obesity

Other Risk Factors

Some research showed that black and indigenous women from North America are more likely to develop preeclampsia than other women. Additionally, chronic stressful situations that affect health and well-being also could play a role.

What are The Possible Complications of Preeclampsia?

Not treating this condition may lead to some unwanted complications. Examples include:

Fetal growth restriction – This condition affects blood vessels that supply the placenta with oxygen and nutrients. In case the fetus receives less nutrients and oxygen it may lead to slow growth.
Preterm birth – This pregnancy complication may lead to unplanned birth (delivery before 37 weeks). However, planned preterm birth is usually the main treatment for this condition. In addition, a prematurely born baby has an elevated risk of breathing and feeding problems, vision or hearing issues, developmental delays, and cerebral palsy.
Placenta abruption – Preeclampsia elevates your risk of placenta abruption. If a person experiences severe abruption it may lead to heavy bleeding that is life-threatening for both baby and mother.
HELLP (hemolysis increased liver enzymes and low platelet count syndrome) – This is a severe form of preeclampsia that impacts different organ systems. Moreover, it can provoke long-term health issues for mothers. The common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, headaches, abdominal pain, and others. However, HELLP may occur without any symptoms.
Eclampsia – It is roughly impossible to determine if a person with preeclampsia will develop eclampsia. Eclampsia is considered the onset of seizures or coma with preeclampsia symptoms. Headaches, vision changes, mental confusion, and altered behavior are the common symptoms.
Other organ damage – Damage to the liver, kidneys, lungs, heart, or eyes may occur due to preeclampsia. As a result, you may experience stroke, brain injuries, and other health conditions.
Cardiovascular disease – People with preeclampsia are at higher risk of developing future blood vessel and heart disease.

Diagnosis

Commonly, this condition is diagnosed by doctors if you have hypertension after 20 weeks of pregnancy and at least one of the following problems. Examples include:

Low blood platelet count
Kidney problem symptoms
Proteinuria
Pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)
Persistent headaches
Vision problems

In case physicians are not sure whether you have preeclampsia or not, you may need to do some additional tests. Check below some of them:

Blood tests – These are used to determine how your lungs and kidneys are working.
Urine tests – These tests are also done to verify how your kidneys work.
Fetal ultrasound – This test helps your doctor to get images of your baby’s growth.
Nonstress test or biophysical profile – This test uses ultrasound to measure how the baby is breathing, muscle tone, movement, and volume of amniotic fluid in the uterus.

Treatment

Healthcare professionals usually prescribe as the main treatment for preeclampsia baby delivery or manage the condition until the best time to deliver the baby. If you experience a severe form of preeclampsia, you should stay in the hospital because your doctor will monitor blood pressure and possible complications regularly. Check below some treatments for severe preeclampsia forms:

Antihypertensive medicines (used to reduce high blood pressure)
Anticonvulsant drugs used to prevent seizures (such as Magnesium sulfate)
Corticosteroids

Prevention

Medicines – Low-dose Aspirin can help prevent preeclampsia. However, discuss with your doctor before taking any medication.
Lifestyle changes – These include managing existing health conditions, adopting a healthy diet, regular exercise, and others. Talk with your healthcare professional for more details.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary preeclampsia cause?

Healthcare providers think this pregnancy complication occurs due to the blood vessels that supply the placenta not working properly.

What are the main symptoms of preeclampsia?

Severe headaches
Vision changes (including blurred vision, light sensitivity, and others)
Vomiting
Sudden swelling (edema) of the feet, ankles, face, and hands
Pain below ribs

What happens if preeclampsia is not treated?

It is not advised to ignore this condition because it may lead to seizures, stroke, and even death. In case you have additional questions, ask your healthcare professional.