Preeclampsia is a major cause of poor outcome in pregnancy, can’t happen until pregnant women are at least 20 weeks pregnant. It brings effects both on mother and baby. Mostly, the major cases occur in the third trimester (from week 27 to the birth of baby).
Preeclampsia may range from mild to severe. Various changes and symptoms that occur with preeclampsia vary according to the organ system or systems which are affected. One of the most common of preeclampsia symptoms is swelling. You should take consideration if the sudden swelling in knees and ankles, once there is an increase of more than 4 pounds, you should contact a doctor to see. The conditions are severe headache, blurred vision, flashing lights, sensitivity to light, temporary loss of vision, tenderness in upper abdomen, and rapid increase of weight again. The other common symptoms is high blood, a rising blood pressure is usually the first sign of disease. If your blood pressure was normal before your pregnancy, signs and symptoms of preeclampsia may include:
1. High blood pressure (hypertension)
2. Excess protein in your urine (proteinuria)
3. Severe headaches
4. Changes in vision, including temporary loss of vision, blurred vision or light sensitivity
5. Upper abdominal pain, usually under your ribs on the right side
6. Nausea or vomiting
7. Dizziness
8. Decreased urine output
9. Sudden weight gain, typically more than 2 pounds (0.9 kilogram) a week
Moreover, the main sign of preeclampsia in your unborn baby is slower growth compared to a baby that is developing normally. This is caused by the poor blood supply through the placenta to your baby. Your baby receives less oxygen and nutrients than they should, which can affect their development. This is called intra-uterine growth restriction, or intra-uterine growth retardation.
Pregnant women are routinely screened for signs and symptoms of preeclampsia at each prenatal visit. Women at high risk for preeclampsia should be seen in early pregnancy to assess blood pressure, establish accurate pregnancy dating, and perform baseline laboratory tests.
Risks factors for preeclampsia:
- Primigravid state
- History of preeclampsia
- A higher blood pressure at the initiation of pregnancy and a large body size
- A family history of preeclampsia is associated with a two to fivefold increase in risk
- Multiple pregnancy
- Preexisting maternal hypertension
- Pregestational diabetes
- Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
- Vascular or connective tissue disease
It is very poignant for the measurement of blood pressure and urine protein at regular intervals in the late second and third trimesters is critical for diagnosis of preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia symptoms vary from different pregnant women. Routine prenatal visit will help you to diagnose the condition at an early stage. Therefore it is necessary that one doesn’t miss the routine check up and the tests that the physician advises. The checking blood pressure or urine tests diagnose the preeclampsia in the instrument, for the existence of protein in urine will confirm preeclampsia.
