Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication that appears to occur due to problems in the development of placental vessels, resulting in spasms in blood vessels, changes in blood clotting ability and decreased blood circulation.
Symptoms can occur during pregnancy, even after the 20th week of gestation, childbirth or after delivery, and include high blood pressure above 140 x 90 mmHg, presence of proteins in the body’s urine and swelling due to fluid retention.
- Some of the conditions that increase the risk of developing preeclampsia include when a woman is first pregnant.
- Is over 35 years of age or younger.
- Is diabetic.
- Obese.
- Pregnant with twins or has a history of kidney disease.
- Hypertension or previous preeclampsia.
Symptoms of preeclampsia may vary by type
In mild preeclampsia, signs and symptoms usually include:
In the presence of at least one of the symptoms, the pregnant woman should go to the emergency room or hospital to measure her blood pressure and perform blood and urine tests, to see if she has preeclampsia or not.
Other signs may appear in severe preeclampsia, in addition to swelling and weight gain, such as:
If your pregnant woman has these symptoms, you should go to the hospital right away.
Treatment of preeclampsia is intended to ensure the safety of the mother and baby and usually varies depending on the severity of the disease and the duration of the pregnancy. In case of mild preeclampsia, the obstetrician generally recommends that the woman stay at home and follow a low-salt diet with an increase in water consumption to about 2 to 3 liters per day. In addition, rest should be strictly followed and preferably on the left side, to increase blood flow to the kidneys and uterus.
During treatment, it is important for pregnant women to monitor their blood pressure and undergo routine urine testing to prevent preeclampsia from getting worse.
In cases of severe preeclampsia, treatment is usually done with hospital admission. Pregnant women should be hospitalized for venous antihypertensives and closely monitor their health and that of the baby. Depending on your baby’s gestational age, your doctor may recommend the onset of labor to treat preeclampsia.
Complications that preeclampsia can cause include
These complications can be avoided if the pregnant woman performs prenatal care during pregnancy, as the disease can be identified early and treatment can be done as soon as possible.
A woman who has had preeclampsia may become pregnant again, it is important that prenatal care is done strictly, according to the obstetrician’s instructions.