So since you now my own history and passion for Preeclampsia I may start giving you what I know you're just dying for and that's the medical facts and some medical research. For starters, back in the day Preeclampsia was called Toxemia and is a disease found in pregnant women typically in their 2nd or 3rd trimester of gestation of high blood pressure (140/90) and protein found in the urine. This causes swelling in the feet, legs, and hands and is a severe risk for the mother and baby and a rare risk cause deaths. The reason why it's called PRE-Eclampsia is because this happens before the baby is born and after the baby is born within the first 24 hours the mother will end up getting Eclampsia and have seizures. Sadly, there is no other way to cure Preeclampsia except to deliver the child which is risky if the baby is not fully developed. The real way OB/GYN doctors are preventing any further damage is regular visits to the doctor and knowing the symptoms as well as a healthy diet.
Along with high blood pressure and protein there are many other symptoms of Preeclampsia which includes, loss of blood flow to the uterus, improper functioning placenta, severe headaches, dizziness, rapid weight gain, sudden change in vision (or floaters), abdominal pain, and organ failure.
Since there has yet to be a true reason or cause for catching Preeclampsia doctors can see trends and certain ties to this unsolved puzzle. Poor nutrition, higher body fat percent, history of high blood pressure, and bad blood flow to the uterus are certain causes that contribute to Preeclampsia. Typically these cases are seen in first time mothers, teen mothers, obese women, pregnant women over the age of 40, previous cases in mother or sister, and possibly genetics. Having a history of Lupus and Rheumatoid arthritis have also been considered as certain medical conditions that could effect Preeclampsia. A study done by the Department of obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Vermont College of Medicine says that a number of reports indicated that Preeclampsia is associated with elevated blood levels of Lipid Peroxidation products. In view of it's destructive characteristics lipid peroxidation might contribute to pathogenesis of preeclampsia.
So to break it down, this stuff can be no joke to not only the mother's body but the babies as well. It can be prevented long enough to have a full term baby, but usually after 32 weeks gestation the blood pressure gets too risky for the doctor's. Just remember what I said in my second post that there are 76,000 maternal and 500,000 infant deaths each year around the world. What if you had this disease and didn't even know it? What kind of elements could help subside the effects of pre-eclampsia? I'll show you in my next post!
Work Cited:
"Lipid Peroxidation in Pregnancy: New Perspectives on Preeclampsua." Lipid Peroxidation in Pregnancy: New Perspectives on Preeclampsia.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2012.
<http://ukpmc.ac.uk/abstract/MED/2679100/reload=0;jsessionid=T92JPKDvx0BDc1gbV0Jx.6>.
"Preeclampsia & Eclampsia: Risk Factors, Signs & Symptoms, and Treatment." WebMD. WebMD, 01 Jan. 0000. Web. 28 Sept. 2012. <http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/preeclampsia-eclampsia>.
It's so sad that you and your family had to go through all that, and my heart goes out to you. I've never heard of this disease, but it seems like there is a relatively large group that is at risk! Do all mothers with Preeclampsia develop Eclampsia? If they do, is it temporary or does it persist throughout their lifetime?
ReplyDeleteNo, not all mothers develop Eclampsia that's why the nurses will put moms on a Magnesium drip to prevent the after effects that lead to Eclampsia. The disease is temporary and only comes to women who are pregnant or just had a baby. I was out of the hospital after a week and have yet to have any issues with my blood pressure, or any of the symptoms caused by preeclampsia.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for what you and your family went through with preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is not a disease to be taken for granted. It can have so many negative effects on the different organs and systems such as the kidneys, the cardiovascular system and the neurological system just to mention a few.
ReplyDeleteWow. I have a twin sister, we were my mother's first pregnancy and I have an Aunt who has lupus but also had four kids and neither one of them suffered from pre-eclampsia. Just goes to show how pregnancy affects everyone differently.
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