Preeclampsia is one of the most common disorders in pregnancy that remained a mystery to many people. Unfortunately, the lack of knowledge about this disease is placing at stake the health of all pregnant women and their unborn babies, according to Kecia Gaither, M.D., MPH, FACOG.
There are many pregnant women who didn't bother about the condition of their pregnancy, which includes hypertension. With their health looking like it's going well, expectant mothers think they have everything under control until three weeks before the due date. When pregnant women start gaining enormous pounds and when blood pressure escalates from a perfect number to 150/100, then that's when pregnant women will hear the word preeclampsia, as per Romper.
RT FortisNest Conditions like hypertension can lead to preeclampsia causing #HighRiskPregnancy.#Health #Pregnancy… pic.twitter.com/1aghXO8qhV
— Garland IVF (@GarlandIVF) Marso 15, 2016
Well, if you're one of those pregnant women who never bothered to read nor to ask about it, preeclampsia is a disease that often manifests through high blood pressure, high levels of protein in the urine and swollen legs, Gaither explained to Huffington Post.
The symptoms of preeclampsia can be discovered through routine evaluation during prenatal care checkups. Preeclampsia commonly presents itself in the latter half of the second trimester of pregnancy. Symptoms include headaches, abdominal pain, protein in the urine, benign blood pressure elevation and swelling from fluid retention.
The cause of preeclampsia is still unknown. However, there are a few factors that can increase your risks, according to the American Pregnancy Association. One of the factors is if you had preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy, then you're at the higher risk. Other factors include history of high blood pressure before pregnancy, obesity and carrying multiples.
Community health workers in #Mozambique training to use @LGTmedical phone #oximeters in #preeclampsia diagnosis. pic.twitter.com/WVVqiLPnRE — The Sensor Project (@SensorProject) Marso 14, 2016
As of now, the only known cure for preeclampsia is delivery. However, doctors may prescribe necessary medications to prevent seizures, stabilize the blood pressure and to enhance the lung development of the fetus. Depending on the severity of preeclampsia.
So, to all pregnant women out there, better stay vigilant during the course of your pregnancy. Moreover, always visit your doctor to monitor your health and most importantly, your baby's health. Find out more about preeclampsia by watching the video below!
