What is Pre-eclampsia?
Pre-eclampsia is a condition that occurs in pregnancy. It may also occur for the first time once your baby has been born. It is defined by elevated blood pressure after 20 weeks of pregnancy with the possibility of protein being present in your urine.
What causes Pre-eclampsia?
The cause of Pre-eclampsia is not known.
Who is at risk for developing Pre-eclampsia?
The following women are at risk for developing Pre-eclampsia:
- Diabetics
- First-time pregnancy
- Pregnancies with two or more fetuses
- Women less than 17 years old or more than 35 years old
- Women with chronic high blood pressure
- Obese women (Body mass index of more than 30)
- Women with kidney disease
- Women with cardiovascular disease
- Women who have mothers or sisters who have had pre-eclampsia
What are the signs of Pre-eclampsia?
- A rise in blood pressure
- Low urine output
- Protein in the urine
- Weight gain of greater than 0.9 kilograms per week
What are the symptoms of Pre-eclampsia?
- Severe headache
- Vision changes (such as blurred vision or flashing before the eyes)
- Swelling of feet, face, around the eyes or hands
- Severe upper abdominal pain
- Severe heartburn
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Difficulty in breathing
- Feeling very unwell
- Seizures (convulsion)
** If any of these severe symptoms exist, consult your health care provider immediately. Do not wait until the next scheduled appointment**
What are the possible effects of Pre-eclampsia?
If Pre-eclampsia is not treated, you may be at risk of serious illness and seizures. In severe cases, organs such as the kidneys or liver can become affected, and there can be problems with blood clotting.
Pre-eclampsia can also affect the development of the placenta, which may prevent your baby from growing as they should.
Careful monitoring will be advised by your physician if they are concerned about pre-eclampsia.
What is the treatment?
- If you develop pre-eclampsia, you may be asked to attend the hospital for assessment. Your blood pressure will be measured regularly and you may be offered medication to lower it. Your urine will be measured to test for protein and you will have blood tests done. Your baby will be assessed with heart rate monitoring and an ultrasound scan.
- You will continue to be monitored closely. The physician may decide that it is appropriate and safe to monitor you as an outpatient, with regular check-ups in the women’s health clinic.
- However, if Pre-eclampsia continues to become worse, the physician may suggest that the delivery of the baby is needed.
- Medication may be given to decrease your risk of seizures and control your blood pressure during this period.
- Once the baby is born, symptoms of pre-eclampsia will usually get better. However, if you experienced pre-eclampsia, complications may still occur within the first few days to six weeks following birth, and you will be monitored closely.
- Close monitoring may occur for a short period of time in the special care unit. You will continue on medication for that time, in order to reduce your risk of convulsions and to ensure your blood pressure is normal.
- If your baby has been born early or is smaller than anticipated, he or she may need to be monitored in the special care baby unit. If you choose to breastfeed, your nurse will help support you with this.
Are there any long term effects of Pre-eclampsia?
- Pre-eclampsia can cause long term damage to your liver, kidney, brain, or eyes. Therefore, it is recommended that you have close follow-up with your physician if pre-eclampsia develops, to reduce these risks.
- Studies suggest you are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease later in life and you should have annual preventative medicine exams to follow your blood pressure and other risk factors.
- You are at risk for developing Pre-eclampsia in future pregnancies and it is advisable to contact your physician as early as possible once you know you are pregnant again. Depending on your history you may be started on a low dose aspirin.
