Tanner Health System MyChart


  • Home
  • Can You Prevent Preeclampsia?

Can You Prevent Preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia affects as many as 7 percent of all pregnancies, and surprisingly, the exact cause of the condition remains a mystery.

Research ties the disease, in which women experience high blood pressure and protein in their urine in the third trimester of their pregnancy, to problems with the body’s blood vessels, genetics, possible autoimmune disorders and more.

We do know that it tends to occur most frequently during first pregnancies or if it has happened during a previous pregnancy. Women experiencing a multiple pregnancy, such as twins, also are at a higher risk for developing preeclampsia.

Some risk factors for preeclampsia are beyond your control, such as a family history of the condition or being older than age 35. A history of high blood pressure, diabetes and kidney disease is also linked to preeclampsia.

Two risk factors you can control are your weight and receiving regular prenatal care: Maintaining a healthy weight during your pregnancy can lower your risk for developing preeclampsia; and receiving routine prenatal care can help your patient care team detect the signs of preeclampsia early.

Most women who experience preeclampsia don’t feel sick. They begin to experience some swelling in their hands or face, called edema, and they may experience sudden weight gain over a couple of days or more than two pounds of extra weight in a week. Women who do experience symptoms typically have headaches that won’t go away, difficulty breathing, decreased urine output and possible vision changes, such as seeing spots, flashing lights, light sensitivity, blurry vision or even temporary blindness.

If you experience these symptoms, it’s important to contact your obstetrics provider right away. A physical exam will help us determine your blood pressure, the extent of your edema, how much weight you’ve gained and more. A urinalysis can provide details on how much protein is in your urine, whether your liver enzymes are elevated and if your platelet count is low — all signs of preeclampsia.

Tests also will be conducted to see how well your blood is clotting (important information for your delivery) and to monitor the health of your baby.

The only cure for preeclampsia is delivery of the baby. If the condition develops at 37 weeks of gestation or later, we can consider inducing labor or arranging for a C-section. If it develops before the baby has fully developed, you will likely be prescribed to go on bed rest, make dietary changes and come for frequent visits to your obstetrics provider so he or she can carefully monitor you and your baby. Admission to the hospital for closer observation is also sometimes required.

Speak to your physician as soon as you learn you’re pregnant. You also might consider scheduling a pre-conception appointment with your obstetrics and gynecology provider to go over your health history and to make sure you know what to expect.

If you’re at risk for preeclampsia — and if you’re pregnant, you are — make sure you’re drinking plenty of water, reducing your salt intake, closely monitoring your blood pressure and visiting your OB/GYN team regularly.

Maternity Care




0 Comment(s) so far | Skip to comment form



Name:
Email:
Address Line 1:
Address Line 2:
City:
State:
Zip:
Comments:
 

keyboard_arrow_up