The Rare Disorder in Pregnancy - Preeclampsia

What is preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia is a complex disorder that affects 3 to 8 percent of pregnant women. A woman is diagnosed with preeclampsia if she has high blood pressure and protein in her urine after 20 weeks of pregnancy.Preeclampsia can range from mild to severe, and it can progress slowly or rapidly. The only way to get better is to deliver the baby. (how lucky I am, I had the severe case of preeclampsia)

How would preeclampsia affect my health and the health of my baby?

The more severe the condition and the earlier it appears, the greater the risks for you and your baby. Most women who get preeclampsia develop a mild version near their due date, and they and their babies do fine with proper care.But when preeclampsia is severe, it can affect many organs and cause serious or even life-threatening problems. That's why you'll need to deliver early if your condition is severe or getting worse.

Preeclampsia causes the blood vessels to constrict, resulting in high blood pressure and a reduced blood flow that can affect organs throughout the body, including the liver, kidneys, and brain.When less blood is being delivered to your uterus, it can mean problems for your baby, such as poor growth, too little amniotic fluid, and placental abruption (when the placenta separates from the uterine wall before delivery).In addition, your baby may suffer the effects of prematurity if you need to deliver early.

Changes in your blood vessels caused by preeclampsia may cause your capillaries to "leak" fluid into your tissues. This results in swelling, known as edema.When the tiny blood vessels in your kidneys leak, protein from your bloodstream spills into your urine. (It's normal to have a small amount of protein in your urine, but more than a little bit can signal a problem.) -- (I had this problem too)

What are the symptoms of preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia can come on suddenly, so it's very important to be aware of the symptoms.Call your midwife or doctor right away if you notice swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, more than slight swelling of your hands, or excessive or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles.Sudden swelling is caused by water retention that can also lead to rapid weight gain, so let your caregiver know if you gain more than 4 pounds in a week.

Be aware, though, that not all women with preeclampsia have obvious swelling or dramatic weight gain — and not all women with swelling or rapid weight gain have preeclampsia.With more severe preeclampsia, you may experience other symptoms.

Call your caregiver immediately if you have any of these warning signs:
=Severe or persistent headache
=Vision changes, including double vision, blurred vision, seeing spots or flashing lights, sensitivity to light, or temporary loss of vision
=Intense pain or tenderness in your upper abdomen
=Nausea and vomiting

Symptoms can vary from woman to woman, and preeclampsia can occur without any obvious symptoms, particularly in the early stages.Some symptoms of preeclampsia, such as swelling and weight gain, may seem like normal pregnancy complaints, so you might not know you have the condition until it's discovered at a routine prenatal visit. This is one of the reasons it's so important not to miss your appointments.

Hope this brief summary of this illness can let you learn more.. If you want to know more about this illness, here's a link with more details

http://www.babycenter.com/0_preeclampsia_257.bc?articleId=257&showAll=true