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What is preeclampsia? Preeclampsia is a disorder of pregnancy characterised by high maternal blood pressure, and protein in the urine. It is the most common serious medical complication of pregnancy, affecting around 5 to 8 per cent of all pregnancies in United States. 1 to 2 per cent of cases are severe enough to threaten the lives of both the mother and her unborn child.

The causes of this condition are not fully understood, but genetic factors and the placenta seem to play significant roles. Preeclampsia tends to be more common in first, rather than subsequent, pregnancies. The woman’s blood pressure usually returns to normal after the baby is born and the placenta is delivered.

Preeclampsia may develop at any time during the second half of pregnancy, but commonly develops during the later stages of pregnancy.

Preeclampsia most commonly causes high blood pressure and protein in the urine

The seriousness of the disease is decided by the level of the blood pressure.

In its mildest form, protein will show in a urine test and blood pressure may be only slightly raised.

However, preeclampsia can become very serious

All forms of preeclampsia need to be treated

Who is at risk of preeclampsia? It is difficult to predict who will be affected, but certain women appear to be more at risk than others, including women who: are pregnant with more than one baby in the womb.

What are the symptoms of preeclampsia? Preeclampsia initially has no obvious symptoms and most women with the condition feel well.

That’s why regular antenatal checks of your blood pressure are so important

Early symptoms of preeclampsia include:

  • proteinuria (protein in your urine). Oedema is a common pregnancy symptom

  • usually causing swelling of the feet

  • ankles.

    However

  • sudden swelling of the face hands feet can be a sign of preeclampsia

Some of the advanced symptoms of preeclampsia include:

  • vomiting. If left untreated

In the womb, the baby is attached to a special organ of pregnancy called the placenta. It is the placenta that provides the baby with oxygen and nutrients from the mother’s blood and gets rid of waste products (such as carbon dioxide) by passing them back to the mother’s blood.

If the mother has preeclampsia, high blood pressure can slow down the amount of oxygen and nutrients that are able to get through to the baby.

In severe cases, the baby can be gradually starved of oxygen and nutrients, which may affect growth. This growth restriction threatens the life of the baby and it is then necessary for the baby to be born early, even , where the placenta separates from the uterine wall and the woman experiences vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain.

This is a medical emergency

Some symptoms of preeclampsia, such as fluid retention, are also typical of normal pregnancy, so women may dismiss the early warning signs. This is why regular antenatal blood pressure checks are vital to detecting and diagnosing preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is diagnosed when high blood pressure (140/90 mm Hg or higher) occurs together with one or more of the following after 20 weeks pregnancy: fetal growth restriction – determined by fetal ultrasound.

If you are diagnosed with mild preeclampsia your GP (doctor) will advise you as to how often you need to have antenatal check-ups. Your blood pressure and urine will be tested regularly, and you will be asked about any symptoms you may have.

If you are diagnosed with severe preeclampsia you may need to be admitted to hospital for monitoring and treatment – this may be until your baby is born.

Treatment may include: anticonvulsant medication

At present, the only cure for preeclampsia is for the baby to be born and the placenta to be delivered. In some cases this may mean that your labour is induced. Maternal deaths in United States are very rare; however, preeclampsia and its associated complications are responsible for around 15 per cent of maternal deaths.

Medical researchers are looking for ways to predict preeclampsia, in order to reduce the risks for mothers and their babies. Since preeclampsia tends to run in families, scientists are currently looking for the specific gene(s) which might be responsible for preeclampsia.

If discovered, it is hoped there will eventually be a prepregnancy test for the condition.

Effects of preeclampsia on the mother At its most serious, blood pressure can be very high and other body organs are affected such as the kidneys , liver , brain and blood If left untreated, preeclampsia can lead to serious problems such as:

  • fitting or convulsions
  • you may also develop fluid retention dizziness headache visual disturbances
  • fluid in the feet hands

Key Points

  • causes of this condition are not fully understood, but genetic factors and the placenta seem to play significant roles
  • Preeclampsia tends to be more common in first, rather than subsequent, pregnancies
  • Preeclampsia most commonly causes high blood pressure and protein in the urine
  • That’s why regular antenatal checks of your blood pressure are so important
  • Early symptoms of preeclampsia include: proteinuria (protein in your urine)