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Preeclampsia: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Prevention
Preeclampsia is not all that uncommon for pregnant women in their third trimester. A little more than five percent of healthy pregnant women will develop Preeclampsia after twenty weeks gestation. Preeclampsia is characterized by swelling in the lower extremities, high blood pressure, the presence of protein in the urine and headaches.
The true cause of Preeclampsia is not really known, though it is widely believed that some fetal antigens trigger an immunity response from the mother, resulting in Preeclampsia. When Preeclampsia first starts coming on, you may not even know it. This is why it is crucial to go to every prenatal appointment so that your OBGYN can closely monitor your urine protein levels, blood pressure and swelling.
You may not notice any symptoms at first, but Preeclampsia is usually a progressive condition. You may start to experience headaches, sensitivity to light, nausea and/or vomiting as well as swelling in the lower extremities. Sometimes these symptoms can come on rather quickly and you need to see your doctor immediately if you notice them.
If Preeclampsia goes untreated, it can easily progress into eclampsia. If it does, you may experience convulsions, seizures, blackouts and sometimes total unconsciousness. This is a very dangerous, life threatening condition. If you or your loved ones notice any of these symptoms, you should be immediately taken to the emergency room.
If your doctor diagnoses you with Preeclampsia, you will be closely monitored and you should be ready for an early delivery. Constant monitoring of mother and child is crucial for ensuring the safety of both. Bed rest or hospitalisation may be recommended based on the progression of the disorder. You may be given magnesium sulphate to help keep eclampsia at bay.
The only real cure for Preeclampsia is delivery. Through careful monitoring, your doctor will decide when the risks to you outweigh the risks to the baby and the baby will be delivered.
Most cases of Preeclampsia can be managed from home. The baby may be monitored for maturity about twice a week. Your doctor will most likely suggest that you deliver as soon as the baby is ready even if your Preeclampsia is mild. This is because things can get worse the further along you go. Induction is common with Preeclampsia patients and so are cesarean sections.
Talk to your doctor about managing your Preeclampsia at home. Diet, bed rest and stress levels can all have an effect on your condition. If you are in Texas and need to find a Round Rock OBGYN, consider Heart of Texas Women's Center for all of your prenatal needs.
About the author:
Dr. Matthew Romberg, a Round Rock OBGYN specializing in obstetrical and gynaecologic care, is the President of the Heart of Texas Women's Center. The Heart of Texas Women's Center provides state of the art health care including surgical procedures, family planning counselling and complete prenatal care.
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