Preeclampsia and Eclampsia – Take Care of You and Baby During Pregnancy!

Preeclampsia is a women’s disease that occurs during pregnancy. It is characterized by the high blood pressure and the protein presence in urine. Moreover, patients, who suffer from preeclampsia, are likely to have edemas on their feet and hands. Typically, women face preeclampsia in the second half of the term, in the end of the second or in the beginning of the third trimester, although it may occur earlier.

Eclampsia is the latest and the most severe phase of preeclampsia, which may arise in case of inadequate or untimely treatment. Eclampsia can cause coma and even death of the mother and fetus, and it may develop before, during and after labor.

The exact causes of preeclampsia and eclampsia are unknown, although some researchers consider poor diet, high level of body fat or insufficient blood flow to the uterus to be the possible causes.

Pregnant teenage girls, women over 40 and those who are pregnant for the first time are at risk of having preeclampsia. Other factors of risk include:

- arterial hypertension before pregnancy
- having preeclampsia in the past
- cases when the woman’s mother or sister were having preeclampsia
- pregnancy and obesity at the same time
- pregnancy with more than one fetus
- diabetes, kidney disease, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.

The signs of preeclampsia are as follows:
- Edemas
- Rapid weight gain, caused by fluid retention in the body of a pregnant woman
- Abdominal pain
- Hypertension
- The presence of protein in the urine
- Severe headache (caused by increased blood pressure)
- Changing the reflexes
- Reducing the volume of urine
- Dizziness
- Severe nausea and vomiting.

Some edemas are usual for pregnancy. However, if edema doesn’t disappear after the rest and is combined with other symptoms, such as high blood pressure, you have to consult your doctor. Preeclampsia can cause an interruption of the blood flow through the placenta, which may lead to the risk of a baby to be born with disorders in its development. In addition, preeclampsia is one of the major causes of premature births, as well as following pathologies, including epilepsy, cerebral palsy and visual and hearing impairment. The only treatment of preeclampsia and eclampsia is labor.

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