What is preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia is a complication some women experience in pregnancy. Information technology ofttimes occurs afterwards 20 weeks of pregnancy, but rarely can develop earlier or postpartum. The major signs of preeclampsia are loftier blood force per unit area and certain organs not working commonly. A possible sign is backlog protein in urine.

The exact cause of preeclampsia is unknown. Experts recall it's caused by bug with the blood vessels that connect the placenta, the organ that passes oxygen from mom to baby, to the uterus.

During the early on stages of pregnancy, new blood vessels begin to form between the placenta and uterine wall. These new blood vessels may develop abnormally for several reasons, including:

  • inadequate claret period to the uterus
  • blood vessel damage
  • immune system problems
  • genetic factors

These abnormal blood vessels restrict the amount of blood that can movement to the placenta. This dysfunction tin can cause a pregnant woman'south blood pressure to increase.

If left untreated, preeclampsia can be life-threatening. Because it involves issues with the placenta, the recommended treatment for preeclampsia is commitment of the baby and placenta. The risks and benefits regarding timing of delivery are based on the severity of the disease.

A diagnosis of preeclampsia early in your pregnancy tin can be tricky. The baby needs time to grow, but yous both demand to avoid serious complications. In this instance, your doctor may prescribe magnesium sulfate likewise as medications to help reduce blood pressure level.

Magnesium sulfate therapy is used to preclude seizures in women with preeclampsia. Information technology tin can also help prolong a pregnancy for up to two days. This allows drugs that speed up your baby's lung development to exist administered.

What are the symptoms of preeclampsia?

In some women, preeclampsia develops gradually without whatever symptoms.

High blood pressure, the major sign of preeclampsia, ordinarily occurs suddenly. This is why information technology's important for pregnant women to monitor their claret pressure closely, especially later in their pregnancy. A blood pressure reading of 140/90 mm Hg or higher, taken at ii split times at to the lowest degree iv hours autonomously, is considered abnormal.

Besides loftier blood pressure, other signs or symptoms of preeclampsia include:

  • excess protein in urine
  • decreased corporeality of urine
  • low platelet count in blood
  • intense headaches
  • vision problems such as loss of vision, blurry vision, and sensitivity to light
  • pain in the upper belly, usually nether the ribs on the right side
  • vomiting or nausea
  • abnormal liver office
  • trouble animate due to fluid in the lungs
  • rapid weight gain and swelling, especially in the face and hands

If your doctor suspects preeclampsia, they'll perform claret and urine tests to brand a diagnosis.

What are the possible complications?

You're more likely to have complications if yous develop preeclampsia early in pregnancy. In some cases, doctors must perform induced labor or a caesarean delivery to remove the baby. This will end preeclampsia from progressing and should lead to resolution of the condition.

If left untreated, complications may develop. Some complications of preeclampsia include:

  • a lack of oxygen to the placenta which can cause boring growth, depression birth weight, or preterm nativity of the baby or fifty-fifty stillbirth
  • placental abruption, or the separation of the placenta from the uterus wall, which can cause astringent bleeding and harm to the placenta
  • HELLP syndrome, which causes loss of ruby claret cells, elevated liver enzymes, and low claret platelet count, resulting in organ damage
  • eclampsia, which is preeclampsia with seizures
  • stroke, which can lead to permanent brain damage or fifty-fifty death

Women who develop preeclampsia face an increased risk for heart and blood vessel disease. Their risk of preeclampsia in time to come pregnancies as well increases. Women who've had preeclampsia have a xvi percent chance of developing it again in a future pregnancy.

How does magnesium sulfate therapy treat preeclampsia?

The just treatment to stop progression and lead to resolution of preeclampsia is delivery of the babe and placenta. Waiting to evangelize can increase risk of complications but delivering too early on in the pregnancy increases the risk for preterm birth.

If information technology'southward too early in your pregnancy, you lot may be told to expect until the baby is mature enough to be built-in to minimize those risks.

Depending on the severity of the disease and gestational historic period, doctors may recommend women with preeclampsia come in more ofttimes for outpatient prenatal visits, or possibly be admitted to the hospital. They'll likely perform more than frequent claret and urine tests. They may besides prescribe:

  • medications to lower blood pressure
  • corticosteroids to help mature the infant's lungs and improve the mother's health

In astringent cases of preeclampsia, doctors often recommend antiseizure medications, such as magnesium sulfate. Magnesium sulfate is a mineral that reduces seizure risks in women with preeclampsia. A healthcare provider will give the medication intravenously.

Sometimes, it'southward as well used to prolong pregnancy for upward to 2 days. This allows time for corticosteroid drugs to amend the baby's lung function.

Magnesium sulfate usually takes effect immediately. It's normally given until about 24 hours later on delivery of the baby. Women receiving magnesium sulfate are hospitalized for shut monitoring of the treatment.

Are there whatsoever side effects?

Magnesium sulfate can be beneficial to some with preeclampsia. Simply at that place'due south a risk of magnesium overdose, called magnesium toxicity. Taking too much magnesium tin be life-threatening to both mother and kid. In women, the almost common symptoms include:

  • nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting
  • big drops in blood force per unit area
  • slow or irregular eye rate
  • breathing problems
  • deficiencies in minerals other than magnesium, peculiarly calcium
  • confusion or fogginess
  • coma
  • heart attack
  • kidney damage

In a babe, magnesium toxicity can cause low muscle tone. This is caused by poor muscle control and low bone density. These conditions can put a baby at greater risk for injuries, such as bone fractures, and fifty-fifty death.

Doctors care for magnesium toxicity with:

  • giving an antidote
  • fluids
  • animate support
  • dialysis

To prevent magnesium toxicity from happening in the offset place, your doctor should closely monitor your intake. They may as well enquire how y'all're feeling, monitor your animate, and check your reflexes often.

The risk of toxicity from magnesium sulfate is depression if yous're dosed appropriately and take normal kidney part.

What is the outlook?

If you lot accept preeclampsia, your md may continue to give yous magnesium sulfate throughout your delivery. Your blood force per unit area should return to a normal level within days to weeks of delivery. Considering the condition may not resolve immediately, close follow up after delivery and for some fourth dimension after is of import.

The best way to foreclose complications from preeclampsia is an early diagnosis. When you go to your prenatal intendance visits, always tell your doctor about any new symptoms.