Preeclampsia

What Is Preeclampsia?

Formerly preeclampsia pregnant women develop.It is marked by high blood pressure and a high level of protein in the urine.Preeclamptic women will often also have swelling in the feet, legs, and hands. Thiscondition usually appears during the second half of pregnancy, often in the latterpart of the second or in the third trimesters, although it can occur earlier.

If undiagnosed, preeclampsia can lead to eclampsia, a serious condition that canput you and your baby at risk, and in rare cases, cause death. Women withpreeclampsia who have seizures 

There's no way to cure preeclampsia, and that can be a scary prospect for moms-to-be. But you can help protect yourself by learning the symptoms of preeclampsiaand by seeing your doctor for regular prenatal care. When preeclampsia is caughtearly, it's easier to manage. 

Causes

The exact cause of preeclampsia is unknown. Possible causes include:

• Autoimmune disorders
• Blood vessel problems
• Your diet
• Your genes

Risk factors include:

• First pregnancy
• Multiple pregnancy (twins or more)
• Obesity
• Being older than age 35
• History of diabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney disease

Symptoms

Often, women who have preeclampsia do not feel sick.

Symptoms of preeclampsia can include:

• Swelling of the hands and face/eyes (edema)
• Sudden weight gain over 1-2 days, more than 2 pounds a week

Note: Some swelling of the feet and ankles is considered normal during pregnancy.

Symptoms of severe preeclampsia include:

• Headache that does not go away
• Belly pain on the right side, below the ribs. Pain may also be felt in the right shoulder, and can be confused with heartburn, gallbladder pain, a stomach virus, or the baby kicking
• Irritability
• Decreased urine output, not urinating very often
• Nausea and vomiting (worrisome sign)
• Vision changes, including temporary blindness, seeing flashing lights or spots, sensitivity to light, and blurry vision

If you are pregnant and would like to obtain more information about preeclampsia follow this link: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/preeclampsia/basics/symptoms/con-20031644