Preeclampsia and Eclampsia
Preeclampsia is a serious condition that develops only during pregnancy. It is also called toxemia of pregnancy. This condition causes high blood pressure along with other symptoms, such as swelling and headaches. These symptoms may develop as the condition gets worse. Preeclampsia may occur 20 weeks or later into pregnancy.
Diagnosing and treating preeclampsia early is very important. If not treated early, it can cause serious problems for you and your baby. One problem it can lead to is eclampsia, which is a condition that causes muscle jerking or shaking (convulsions or seizures) in the mother. Delivering your baby is the best treatment for preeclampsia or eclampsia. Preeclampsia and eeclampsia symptoms usually
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• Having preeclampsia in a past pregnancy.
• Having a family history of preeclampsia.
• Having high blood pressure.
• Being pregnant with twins or triplets.
• Being 35 or older.
• Being African-American.
• Having kidney disease or diabetes.
• Having medical conditions such as lupus or blood diseases.
• Being very overweight (obese).
SYMPTOMS
The earliest signs of preeclampsia are:
• High blood pressure.
• Increased protein in your urine. Your health care provider will check for this at every visit before you give birth (prenatal visit).
Other symptoms that may develop as the condition gets worse include:
• Severe headaches.
• Sudden weight gain.
• Swelling of the hands, face, legs, and feet.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Vision problems, such as blurred or double vision.
• Numbness in the face, arms, legs, and feet.
• Urinating less than usual.
• Dizziness.
• Slurred speech.
• Abdominal pain, especially upper abdominal pain.
• Convulsions or seizures.
Symptoms generally go away after giving birth.
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• When lying down, lie on your side. This keeps pressure off your baby.
• When sitting or lying down, raise (elevate) your feet. Try putting some pillows underneath your lower legs.
• Exercise regularly. Ask your health care provider what kinds of exercise are best for you.
• Keep all follow-up and prenatal visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.
PREVENTION
To prevent preeclampsia or eeclampsia from developing during another pregnancy:
• Get proper medical care during pregnancy. Your health care provider may be able to prevent preeclampsia or diagnose and treat it early.
• Your health care provider may have you take a low-dose aspirin or a calcium supplement during your next pregnancy.
• You may have tests of your blood pressure and kidney function after giving birth.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Ask your health care provider for help managing weight gain during pregnancy.
• Work with your health care provider to manage any long-term (chronic) health conditions you have, such as diabetes or kidney problems.
SEEK MEDICAL CARE IF:
• You gain more weight than expected.
• You have headaches.
• You have nausea or
When pregnant, many expecting mothers are faced with a very tough decision, the decision to have an epidural during labor or to have a natural birth. Both methods have negative and positive aspects. This topic has such conflicting views that about 50% of women decide to get an epidural when going into labor and the other 50% of women choose the alternative: natural childbirth. It is important for an expecting mother to look into both options thoroughly to ensure they make the best choice for both themselves and for their child. With all of the speculations circulating about both options, it is hard for mothers to see the truth about both epidurals and natural childbirth.
Many methods of screening have been implemented including neonatal sampling of hair and meconium, maternal urine screening, and maternal self-reports.(11) In considering wide-spread feasibility, self-report measures have been commonly used, some more known and validated methods include the 4 P’s plus and TWEAK. (4,5,13) In the clinic visit, the Obstetrician may also implement a brief motivational interview to assess the patients willingness to change. The Treatment and Intervention Protocol recommends the FRAMES Approach where the providers give feedback, responsibility, advice, menus of change options, empathy, and empowers t...
Estimate frequency of multiple conceptions, Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Pregnancy Induced Hypertension, Pre-eclempsia, preterm delivery and different modes of delivery in these pregnancies.
Although there is no known prevention for this disease it recommended for the mother to follow not put the growing fetus at any harm like smoking or drinking while pregnant and to regularly have checks with the doctor.
Untreated asthma in pregnancy can result in hypertension and preeclampsia, putting the baby at risk.
medications, proper prenatal care, and consulting with doctor about medications are effective precautions during pregnancy. Also, if suffering with diabetes, anemia, hypertension, seizure, or nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy, then these must be controlled. After birth, do not shake baby, which can lead to shaken baby syndrome and brain damage. Do not expose children to lead, this can also lead to brain damage, and give proper immunizations at the right time for the child (Bachrach, 2012).
Having her own doctor, and make regular visits, are very important for her, because prenatal care is useful, for pregnant woman. She needs to take adequate folic acid, as ordered by her doctor. The folic acid intake should not exceed (400 to 800 mcg or0.4 to 0.8 mg) daily. Taking folic acid, with vitamins, helps to lower risk of birth defects. For a pregnant woman eating from major food groups are vital for the healthy development of the child. ( Kail & Cavanaugh, 2014).Pregnant woman need to eat, different kind of healthy foods including, fruits, and vegetables. Specially, foods rich in calcium, such as whole grain, lean meats, and seafood. Increasing daily fluid intake is necessary, particularly drinking sufficient water. The other area which pregnant woman needs to be active is doing physical activity, which helps to maintain balanced body weight during pregnancy. Getting enough sleep, washing hands frequently and, avoiding stress, is crucial. In addition to what I already mentioned above, taking necessary flu shot is always useful for pregnant woman. Avoid smoking, and quit if they are smoking. Because, smoking is not good during pregnancy, and also it can harm the health
...n level in the blood which is hyperbilirubinemia. The woman’s baby may be at risk for also developing diabetes and obesity. If you have had gestational diabetes you are at a higher risk for developing it again during future pregnancies.
Performance Characteristics of Postpartum Screening Tests for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Women with a History of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review, 18(7), Retrieved from http://lib-proxy.calumet.purdue.edu:2461/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?hid=15&sid=af725124-1c4c-4d18-9e92-35d14ad23d66%40sessionmgr4&vid=15&sid=af Diabetes Information Hub -. (2011). The 'Standard' of the 'Standard'. Retrieved from http://diabetesinformationhub.com/GestationalDiabetes.php. Mayo Clinic. (2010).
eclampsia in a pregnant woman can put her and her unborn child at risk. A risk
Postpartum care of the patient diagnosed with gestational diabetes should also include glucose testing. Glucose should be tested at the six week appointment and then at least every three years thereafter. In subsequent pregnancies glucose should be checked early on in pregnancy because of increased risk of developing gestational diabetes. (NDEP, 2013)
Between five to ten percent of all infants are born more than two weeks before their due date due to several factors that include infections, illness, poor nutrition, or complications during the pregnancy. Fetal monitors are used in the cases of C-sections because there is a much higher risk of detecting the infant’s distress and therefore can go in more quickly to remove the baby from the uterus. When the mother is under general anesthesia, which is rare in the United States, the mother is not aware of any kind of pain or even the birth of her child. When the mother has spinal anesthesia she has no feeling from the waist down. Sometimes, the best indication that the baby is in distress is the mother- an unfamiliar pain occurs or something else could be a sign of problems.
Nausea and vomiting are especially common during early pregnancy, particularly within the first trimester. Most women experience nausea and vomiting, commonly referred to as “morning sickness”, which is often attributed to the mother’s reaction to the spike in pregnancy hormones. Although feeling ill is considered normal within the first few months of pregnancy, there are instances of nausea and vomiting that continue on to the second and third trimesters and are then considered more severe. When dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, weight loss, acidosis, or even hepatic and renal damage occur as a result of the hyperemesis, it is then determined to be hyperemesis gravidarum.
Over the years birthing methods have changed a great deal. When technology wasn’t so advanced there was only one method of giving birth, vaginally non-medicated. However, in today’s society there are now more than one method of giving birth. In fact, there are three methods: Non-medicated vaginal delivery, medicated vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery, also known as c-section. In the cesarean delivery there is not much to prepare for before the operation, except maybe the procedure of the operation. A few things that will be discussed are: the process of cesarean delivery, reasons for this birthing method and a few reasons for why this birthing method is used. Also a question that many women have is whether or not they can vaginally deliver after a cesarean delivery, as well as the risks and benefits if it. Delivering a child by a c-section also has a few advantages and disadvantages for both the mother and child; this will also be discussed in more depth a bit later.
An obstetrician is one thing, and a gynecologist is another. The job is combined together, but the two branches can be worked separately. An obstetrician is a physician who focuses and is trained in the management of pregnancy, labor, and pueperium (the period following childbirth). A physician who has specialized and trained in the health of the female reproductive system is a gynecologist. The reason the jobs are combined is because they’re both all about women. Obstetricians and Gynecologists are physicians who provide general medical care to women. They equip medical care associated with pregnancy or childbirth, and they diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases, especially those affecting the female