Pre-eclampsia is a complication of pregnancy. It can often be missed by treating doctors and may lead to the serious injury or death of the mother and/or baby.
Pre-eclampsia usually begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy in women whose blood pressure had previously been in the standard range.
I came across a great article in the Guardian on this recently and thought I would share it with you. It should be read by every expectant mother, so they know the early signs to look out for:
Why is pre-eclampsia still causing the deaths of mothers and their babies? | Science | The Guardian
Symptoms
You may have no noticeable symptoms.
The primary symptom of pre-eclampsia is high blood pressure, proteinuria, or other signs of damage to the kidneys or other organs.
The first signs of pre-eclampsia are often detected during routine prenatal visits with a health care provider, but sometimes, these signs are missed by doctors.
Left untreated, pre-eclampsia can lead to serious—even fatal—complications for both the mother and baby.
Along with high blood pressure, preeclampsia signs and symptoms may include:
- Severe headaches
- Shortness of breath, caused by fluid in the lungs
- Nausea or vomiting
- 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
- Changes in vision, including temporary loss of vision, blurred vision or light sensitivity
- Pain in the upper belly, usually under the ribs on the right side
Weight gain and swelling are typical during healthy pregnancies; however, sudden weight gain or a sudden appearance of swelling edema—particularly in your face and hands—may be a sign of pre-eclampsia.
Risk factors
Conditions that are linked to a higher risk of pre-eclampsia include:
- Pre-eclampsia 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 pre-eclampsia include:
- Family history of pre-eclampsia
- Complications in a previous pregnancy
- First pregnancy with current partner
- Obesity
- Maternal age of 35 or older
- More than 10 years since previous pregnancy
Prevention
Medication
The best clinical evidence for prevention of pre-eclampsia 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 pre-eclampsia 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.
Early Delivery
Early delivery of the baby is often recommended once pre-eclampsia is diagnosed.
The timing of delivery depends on how severe the pre-eclampsia is and how many weeks pregnant you are. Before delivery, pre-eclampsia treatment includes careful monitoring and medications to lower blood pressure and manage complications.
Another informative article on pre-eclampsia can be read here:
Preeclampsia Overview – Cleveland Clinic
According to the Preeclampsia Foundation, pre-eclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading cause of maternal and infant illness and death worldwide.
Healthcare professionals usually diagnose pre-eclampsia during routine blood pressure checks at prenatal appointments. Two blood pressure readings higher than 140/90, taken at least four hours apart, can indicate this condition.
A doctor should closely monitor the mother’s health for possible pre-eclampsia. They can perform several blood, urine, or ultrasound tests to get an accurate diagnosis.
If a physician fails to recognize or treat the symptoms properly, it can result in significant problems for the mother and her baby.
For more information on this article, or for a confidential discussion of your potential pre-eclampsia medical malpractice claim, contact Paul Mitchell, K.C. at 250-869-1115 (direct line), or send him a confidential email at [email protected].
