6 Facts About Preeclampsia You Must Know

Globally, around 800 women die every day due to pregnancy or childbirth-related complications. And preeclampsia is one of the major complications that account to about 80% of all maternal deaths.

Severe forms of preeclampsia occur more commonly throughout the world and about 76,000 women die every year because of it. Henceforth, preeclampsia should be detected and managed appropriately before it could lead to any life-threatening complications.

Here are some facts about preeclampsia you must know!

1. Signs and Symptoms to watch for- Typical symptoms include high blood pressure, swelling, migraine-like headaches that don’t go away, nausea, vomiting, lower back pain, sudden weight gain, vision problems, overly strong reflexes and shortness of breath. The symptoms can appear in the second part of pregnancy (after 20 weeks). Majority of women with preeclampsia do not feel sick at the beginning. They only start experiencing the symptoms only when the condition has reached a severe stage.

2. Who is at risk for preeclampsia?- Although it is unclear as to who is likely to get preeclampsia, certain conditions can put you at greater risk, such as obesity, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, chronic hypertension, having twin or triplets, preeclampsia during previous pregnancies and a family history of the condition. If your doctor finds out that you have begun to have high blood pressure during your OB visits, he/she will start monitoring you much closer. Also, there are certain tests that can help diagnose preeclampsia and your doctor might recommend one.

3. The cause remains unknown- Although numerous theories have suggested different causes such as obesity, genetic factors, and poor nutrition, none of them have been proven to be successful at determining the cause. However, it is generally agreed that the placenta plays a key role in the condition.

4. What happens if preeclampsia is left untreated?- When left untreated, it can affect the developing fetus and can even get fatal. High blood pressure is one of the significant causes of maternal death during pregnancy and preeclampsia can restrict the blood flow to the mother’s placenta via which the baby gets all the nourishment. This can thus result in restricted growth or damage to the placenta and can cause significant risks to the fetus. Preeclampsia can progress very quickly and can lead to severe type or fatal HELLP syndrome.

• Treatment options:

Although preeclampsia can be managed in several ways, depending on a wide range of factors associated with the health of both the mother and the baby, the only cure for the condition is to deliver the baby. Baby aspirin and other medications are usually prescribed as a preventive measure for high-risk patients.

• Postpartum preeclampsia:

Although delivery cures preeclampsia, it can persist for some time even after childbirth. Postpartum preeclampsia exhibits the same symptoms of the condition during pregnancy and can make it hectic when you are busy with your newborn.

Educating women and the medical community about such facts about preeclampsia can significantly reduce maternal mortality throughout the world.