Understanding Preeclampsia: Symptoms, Risk Factors, and Management

Pregnancy is a joyful and healthy time for most women, but it does come with some risks and complications. One of those is a blood pressure condition called preeclampsia, which happens in about 8 percent of pregnancies and can be a significant concern in some. In this blog we’ll take a closer look at preeclampsia, what causes it, how it’s managed, and what can be done to prevent it.

What is Preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia is a medical condition that’s unique to pregnancy. It typically occurs after about 20 weeks and is noted by a spike in the expectant mother’s blood pressure. Because it puts stress on the heart and can affect the blood supply to the placenta, kidneys, liver, and brain, it’s a serious condition and one that needs to be treated immediately by a healthcare provider. While it typically goes away after the baby is delivered, it can have a lingering impact in some women, increasing their lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease.

Signs and Symptoms of Preeclampsia

High blood pressure is the most obvious sign of preeclampsia, but there are other common symptoms, including protein in the urine, swelling of the hands and face, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, headaches, and blurred vision. Because pregnancy brings on lots of physical changes, these symptoms can be overlooked. That’s why it’s important to be aware of them and discuss them in detail with your prenatal care provider to make sure you identify preeclampsia early and get the pressing and precise care you need.

Risk Factors for Preeclampsia

Medical experts aren’t entirely sure what causes preeclampsia, but they’ve identified some consistent risk factors. Women with a personal or family history of preeclampsia, kidney disease, or diabetes are obviously at higher risk, as are those with existing high blood pressure. First-time moms, women expecting multiple babies, and those older than 40 are also more susceptible. Other conditions, like obesity and autoimmune diseases like lupus, have also been shown to raise the risk.

Preeclampsia Diagnosis and Screening

Most often preeclampsia is diagnosed during a routine blood pressure check. If your prenatal care provider suspects it, they may order a urine or blood test to check the function of your liver and kidneys. They might also perform an ultrasound or other screening to assess the growth of the fetus and the volume of amniotic fluid. Because conditions like preeclampsia can be significant complications, it’s critically important to get consistent prenatal care so you can have them diagnosed early and monitored throughout your pregnancy.

Complications and Effects on Mother and Baby

Because high blood pressure can restrict blood flow, preeclampsia can keep the placenta from getting enough blood and deprive the fetus of oxygen and nutrients. That can cause the baby to be born prematurely or very small. Premature births come with additional and sometimes long-term complications, including feeding and breathing difficulties, vision or hearing problems, developmental delays, learning disabilities, and other challenges.

Preeclampsia can impact a mom’s future health as well, including immediate risks like postnatal bleeding and stroke or longer-term concerns like kidney, liver, lung, heart, and eye damage and cardiovascular disease.

Preeclampsia Management and Treatment

That’s why treating and managing preeclampsia are so crucial. For women with mild preeclampsia, bed rest is the most common prescription. That may be something you do at home or in the hospital depending on your provider’s advice. Your provider might also prescribe medication to lower your blood pressure and/or have you wear a fetal heart rate monitor to keep an eye on things in real time.

By far the best treatment for preeclampsia is giving birth. Depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy, the severity of your condition, and your baby’s growth and development, that may mean inducing labor and delivering the baby early. If you’re close enough to your due date, though, your provider may recommend managing your blood pressure and delivering as scheduled. In most cases, preeclampsia goes away within a few weeks of giving birth.

Prevention Strategies

Avoiding preeclampsia altogether, of course, is the best strategy for your and your baby’s health. And while that may not be entirely within your control, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk. Making sure you’re scheduling and attending all your prenatal care appointments and following your provider’s advice are chief among them. But you can also do your best to make healthy lifestyle choices, like avoiding smoking, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy weight. Managing any pre-existing medical conditions you may have is also a great idea, and not just when it comes to preventing this particular condition.

Preeclampsia is a serious condition with potentially serious consequences for moms and babies alike. But if you’re committed and consistent with your prenatal care, mindful of the signs and symptoms, and follow your provider’s advice, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy the happy, healthy pregnancy you’ve always imagined.

Contact your obstetrician if you have any concerns or questions about preeclampsia. To speak with a Mount Carmel provider, call 614-663-3888