Preeclampsia is a health condition among pregnant women characterized by high blood pressure and damage in internal organs like liver and kidneys. About 8 in every 100 pregnant women can experience preeclampsia. Its diagnosis can start as early as 20 weeks of pregnancy and can last few weeks after giving birth.
This condition doesn’t only occur to women with health issues or history, but it could also affect those who seem to be healthy before their pregnancy. It can be considered as high risk especially if untreated. In severe cases, preeclampsia may result to lasting damage to internal organs of mother, pneumonia, premature birthing and even death to the baby, mommy or worst, both.
Symptoms of Preeclampsia
•Blurred Vision and Light Sensitivity of the Eyes
•Excess protein in the urine
•Other signs of kidney problems
•Constant and severe headaches
•Shortness of breath
•Pneumonia or water in lungs
•Vomitting and Nausea
•Problems in Liver
What are the Causes of Preeclampsia?
When a woman is pregnant in early stage, blood vessels are developed and produced to send more blood to the placenta. Placenta is the main source of nutrients and oxygen for the fetus. However, if a woman has preeclampsia, these blood vessels connecting to the placenta has abnormalities, thus, they function in a different manner. The causes of this abnormalities are:
•Genetics
•Not suffecient flow of blood to the uterus
•Problems with the Immune System
•Defective Blood Vessels
What are Preeclampsia’s Risk Factors?
There are lots of risk factors for preeclampsia that’s why it is considered as one of the most common complication during pregnancy. These risk factors include
•History of Preeclampsia in the family
•Women who are still very young or those who are aged 35 above
•Pregnancy Intervals. Those who has less than 2 years gap and more than 10 years gap has higher risk
•If your baby was conceived through virto fertilization
•First Pregnancy has higher risk
•Those who has pre existing hypertension or chronic hypertension are more prone to develop this condition
When to Get Worried with Preeclampsia?
It is important to regularly visit your doctor and attend to your prenatal check ups so your care provider can monitor your condition. If you are diagnosed of preeclampsia, you must know when you should get worried. If you have severe and constant headache, you’re having problems in your visions, and you cant seem to control your blood pressure no matter what, call your doctor. Talk to them about it so you can have better understanding of your condition too.
Being pregnant is never easy. Aside from possible complications that may arise, you may also have the discomfort of morning sickness and other pregnancy conditions. You need to make sure that you take care of yourself and follow your doctor’s instructions so you and your baby can go through the whole journey of pregnancy successfully. Sometimes, it’s no longer about how comfortable it could be, what’s more important is that you can survive going through it day by day. Keep strong Momma!
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