MM Health
Pre-eclampsia affects six per cent of pregnancies. But what are the symptoms you should be looking for? And, if you do suffer from it, what treatment can you expect?
Pre-eclampsia
Pre-eclampsia is a condition that affects some pregnant women, usually during the second half of pregnancy (from around 20 weeks) or soon after their baby is delivered. Early signs of the condition include hypertension (high blood
pressure) and protein in the urine – symptoms that are most commonly picked up during routine antenatal appointments. The main concern with pre-eclampsia is that, if it is left
untreated, it can lead to serious complications, such as seizures, for both you and your baby. It goes without saying that, the earlier the condition is diagnosed and monitored, the better the outlook for both of you and it’s for that reason that your midwife or GP will regularly check your urine for protein.
Who is affected? There’s no doubt that pre-eclampsia is more common if you have high blood pressure before becoming pregnant, but there are other factors that can increase your chances of developing pre-eclampsia: • If you have diabetes or kidney disease prior to your pregnancy • If you have another condition such as lupus • If you developed pre-eclampsia during a previous pregnancy
Other things that can slightly increase your chances of developing pre-eclampsia include: • having a family history of the condition • being over 40 years old • expecting multiple babies (twins or triplets) • having a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or over
If you're thought to be at a high risk of developing pre-eclampsia, you may be advised to take a daily dose of low-dose aspirin from about the twelfth week of pregnancy until your baby is delivered.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms of pre-eclampsia include swelling, sudden weight gain, persistent or severe headaches, changes in your vision, upper abdominal pain or tenderness, nausea or vomiting. Signs of placental abruption, such as vaginal spotting or bleeding, are another symptom, which needs to be dealt with immediately. In some cases, further symptoms can develop, including:
• swelling of the feet, ankles, face and hands caused by fluid retention
• severe headache • vision problems • pain just below the ribs
What causes it? Although the exact cause of pre-eclampsia isn't known, it's thought to occur when there's a problem with the placenta (the organ that links the baby's blood supply to the mother's).
If you're thought to be at a high risk of developing pre-eclampsia, you may be advised to take a daily dose of low-dose aspirin from about the twelfth week of pregnancy until your baby is delivered
10 Modernmum
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