Pre-eclampsia is a condition of high blood pressure caused by pregnancy after the 20th week. The blood pressure goes up, there is water retention, and protein is found in the urine.
Pre-eclampsia may be mild or severe. Severe pre-eclampsia affects the mother’s blood system, kidneys, brain, and other organs. Sometimest but very rarely, it causes death. If convulsions occur, the disease is called eclampsia. It causes growth restriction in the foetus and may sometimes lead to loss.
The cause of pre-eclampsia is not known. About 5 percent of pregnant women have pre-eclampsia. It is more likely to occur during first pregnancy than later pregnancies and in women less than 20 years or over 35 years. Women who have chronic hypertension, kidney disease or diabetes or twin pregnancies have a greater risk of pre-eclampsia.
Signs and symptoms of pre-eclampsia include:
- High blood pressure
- Water retention, leading to puffiness of the feet, ankles, hands, and face (also called edema)
- Protein in the urine.
- Additional signs and symptoms of severe pre-eclampsia include:
- Headaches
- Blurred vision
- Inability to tolerate bright light
- Lethargy
- Nausea and vomiting
- Salt and water retention
- Pain in the right upper abdomen
- Shortness of breath
If you have mild pre-eclampsia, you may not have any symptoms and may feel perfectly well. The condition may be diagnosed on a routine antenatal visit.
Your doctor may want you to rest in bed, lying on your left side as much as possible. You may need to have more frequent checkups. If your symptoms become more severe, you may have to be admitted to the hospital. You will be given medication to lower your blood pressure. You will probably have various tests to check your condition and the health of the baby. In some cases the doctor may decide to start your labour early and deliver the baby.
Currently, there is no sure way to prevent pre-eclampsia. Many factors may contribute to the development of high blood pressure during pregnancy. However the progress and worsening of this condition can be prevented.
