| Preeclampsia/eclampsia is a complex hypertensive | | | | the placenta from receiving enough blood, which can |
| disorder of pregnancy affecting multiple systems. | | | | cause your baby to be born very small. |
| Preeclampsia is a condition that pregnant women can | | | | It is also one of the leading causes of premature |
| get. Preeclampsia and eclampsia are complications of | | | | births and the difficulties that can accompany them, |
| pregnancy. In preeclampsia, the woman has | | | | including learning disabilities, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, |
| dangerously high blood pressure, swelling, and protein | | | | and hearing and vision problems. With mild |
| in the urine. Mild pre-eclampsia at term is less likely to | | | | preeclampsia, treatment may be limited to bed rest, |
| recur (5-10%) and when it does, it's usually mild again. | | | | with careful daily monitoring of weight, blood |
| After severe pre-eclampsia, recurrence rate is about | | | | pressure, and urine protein via dipstick. Increased |
| 20-25% in subsequent pregnancies. After eclampsia, | | | | dietary protein has been suggested to reduce the |
| about 25-30% of subsequent pregnancies will be | | | | incidence of pre-eclampsia. Magnesium can be injected |
| complicated by pre-eclampsia, but only 2% with | | | | into the veins to prevent eclampsia-related seizures. |
| eclampsia again. About 7% of all nulliparas develop | | | | Hydralazine or another antihypertensive drug to |
| preeclampsia. The disease is most common in | | | | manage severe elevations of blood pressure. A large |
| mothers under the age of 20, or over the age of 35. | | | | trial of low-dose aspirin has confirmed that it has a |
| Other risk factors include poverty, multiple | | | | place in prevention of pre-eclampsia. Close monitoring |
| pregnancies (twins, triplets, etc.), pre-existing chronic | | | | by practitioners will help decrease the complications |
| hypertension or kidney disease, diabetes, excess | | | | of these conditions. |
| amniotic fluid, and a condition of the fetus called | | | | Preeclampsia and Eclampsia Treatment Tips |
| nonimmune hydrops. Eclampsia is the final and most | | | | 1. Monitoring fluid intake. |
| severe phase of preeclampsia and occurs when | | | | 2. Calcium supplementation has also been suggested |
| preeclampsia is left untreated. In addition to the | | | | 3. Fish oil supplementation may help prevent |
| previously mentioned signs of preeclampsia, women | | | | preeclampsia. |
| with eclampsia often have seizures. Eclampsia can | | | | 4. Close monitoring by practitioners will help decrease |
| cause coma and even death of the mother and baby | | | | the complications of these conditions. |
| and can occur before, during, or after childbirth. | | | | 5. Magnesium can be injected into the veins to |
| Eclampsia can cause coma and even death of the | | | | prevent eclampsia-related seizures. |
| mother and baby. Low levels of vitamin D may be a | | | | 6. Hydralazine or another antihypertensive drug to |
| risk factor for preeclampsia. Preeclampsia can prevent | | | | manage severe elevations of blood pressure. |