Any doctor will say that during pregnancy, patients can experience a variety of conditions that, in other conditions, would indicate serious diseases. Stand out here are preeclampsia of pregnant women, the symptoms, causes and treatment of which doctors have yet to study. But even what is known now, allows us to talk about some danger to the health of both the mother and the child. Pressure may rise and fall, swelling may appear, but do not take this lightly - all this can lead to very sad consequences without proper treatment. So what is it?
Pregnant Preeclampsia
In the process of carrying a child, the woman’s body experiences serious changes and overloads. It is not always possible to maintain health at the same time, which is why every expectant mother needs constant monitoring by doctors. And still, she may eventually encounter a condition such as preeclampsia of pregnant women. What it is?
She can be expressed in different ways, a woman may not even feel any inconvenience and believe that her pregnancy is proceeding completely normal. Most doctors call this gestosis, using the term "preeclampsia" only in relation to a rather acute condition, characterized by a number of symptoms. But it all starts with pretty harmless signs.
Causes
If doctors are very clear what this is preeclampsia of pregnant women, then why it occurs is difficult to say. There are certain risk factors that may increase the likelihood of its occurrence, but they do not always work. And if in the first pregnancy a woman may encounter this phenomenon, then in subsequent ones - no. Doctors tend to say that everything is to blame for the high percentage of fat in the body, a violation of the proper functioning of the vascular system, as well as malnutrition. But even excluding all this, you can not guarantee that such a problem does not arise.
By the way, preeclampsia can also be observed immediately after childbirth, so it is likely that the failure is due to malfunctioning of the hormonal or several systems at once. In any case, if ever during pregnancy there were signs of preeclampsia, when planning the next one, you should consult with several specialists at once, including a hematologist, endocrinologist and, of course, obstetrician-gynecologist.
Occurrence and course
A woman experiences a rather large number of unpleasant symptoms, which should alert her even before serious preeclampsia of pregnant women begins. What it is?
Firstly, it is a rise in blood pressure to quite high values. This may not be felt at all, especially if the expectant mother neglects regular visits to the doctor, and also does not measure this indicator on her own.
Secondly, these are serious edema, which is almost impossible to get rid of. A sharp weight gain, heaviness in the legs and their swelling by the end of the day - this can be somewhat considered normal for pregnancy, which you can try to stop by a more balanced diet and the introduction of cranberry juice into the diet. But if such measures do not help, and the condition only worsens, combined with high blood pressure, it makes sense to talk about gestosis - the so-called toxicosis of the second half of pregnancy.
The third sign that mild preeclampsia may soon occur in pregnant women is the presence of protein in the urinalysis. This means that the kidneys are seriously affected, they simply can not cope with the load and begin to fail. In the case of further ignoring the disease, other more dangerous signs appear, with which preeclampsia of pregnant women manifests itself.
Symptoms
After the appearance of edema, which, by the way, may not be felt at all, but have a significant effect on the fetus, as well as the protein in the analysis of urine, other signs of gestosis progression can manifest rather quickly. There may be a decrease in urine output, further fluid retention in the body. In this case, a woman may feel abdominal pain, dizziness, vomiting, nausea. Then reflexes may change due to cerebral edema.
You need to understand that a timely visit to a doctor will help to avoid all these troubles. At present, treatment tactics have already been developed, and in the extreme case of maximum inhibition of disease progression. Often it is possible to significantly extend the pregnancy and sometimes even inform the baby before the due date, safely having delivered with the help of surgeons.
Degrees
Preeclampsia of pregnant women varies in severity of its course and the need for urgent measures. Three are traditionally distinguished, and if we proceed from a pressure standard of 120/80, then they look as follows:
- Mild preeclampsia in pregnant women. Small edema can be observed, and the blood pressure rises no higher than 150/90. There are changes in the biochemical analysis of blood, the protein in the urine is not more than 1 gram per liter.
- Moderate preeclampsia of pregnant women. Pressure at 170/110, resulting in a headache. Urine protein levels up to 5 grams per liter. The number of platelets and urea in the blood changes.
- Severe preeclampsia in pregnant women. The indicators exceed the above figures. Additional symptoms appear and progress: abdominal pain, dizziness and lightheadedness, impaired vision.
The danger also lies in the fact that preeclampsia can progress very quickly. Therefore, even a single increase in pressure to sufficiently high values can become an occasion for an extraordinary visit to the doctor, and in severe cases, an ambulance call. It is not necessary to remember the name "preeclampsia of pregnant women", what it is, doctors will understand for themselves. It is only necessary not to forget that the doctors simply can not help if they arrive too late.
Diagnostics
At each appointment, the gynecologist takes a measurement of blood pressure, as well as weighing. In addition, urine is analyzed for the presence of protein in it. If there is a predisposition to the occurrence of pre-eclampsia of pregnant women, symptoms or suspicions, it makes sense to regularly carry out a number of additional tests.
Firstly, this is a blood test for biochemistry. It allows you to identify the activity of liver enzymes and changes in their level. Secondly, this is a blood test for hemostasis, that is, blood coagulation. This test reveals a problem such as thrombosis. The third test, which helps to monitor the condition of the pregnant woman, is blood for creatinine and urea levels. It allows you to evaluate the work of the kidneys.
As a rule, in a hospital, simpler and more intuitive tests are carried out - for example, an analysis of daily protein loss or a Zimnitsky test, showing the functioning of the excretory system.
Preeclampsia Treatment
From the point of view of doctors, pregnant women have one serious drawback - most of the drugs cannot be used for them. Of course, the arsenal of medicines to maintain a more or less stable state during preeclampsia is quite wide, but still they are not always effective, because each organism is unique in its reactions. Complicating the situation is the fact that this condition can progress from about the twentieth week of pregnancy, and in this case there is practically no chance of self-bearing.
Combination therapy is usually performed to reduce blood pressure and excess fluid in the body, as well as improve blood flow to the fetus. The bulk of the timely treatment of pre-eclampsia in pregnant women allows you to get rid of problems for a period sufficient for a safe term. But in Russian practice, a woman suffering from hypertension will most likely not be allowed to have an independent delivery for medical reasons, so in this case, you need to psychologically prepare for Caesarean section.
Consequences for mother
Eclampsia can occur if preeclampsia of pregnant women is long ignored. What is it and what is characterized by this condition? This is a very dangerous complication that can threaten not only the health, but also the life of a woman.
HELLP syndrome develops, that is, liver damage, erythrocyte destruction and platelet count are reduced. Convulsions may begin, and even coma may occur. Sometimes there is a fatal outcome. However, the disease affects not only the mother.
Consequences for the fetus
A negative effect on a child begins even during an increase in blood pressure. The vessels are narrowed, the blood flow in the placenta is disturbed, the baby does not receive oxygen and nutrients. The fetus grows worse, abnormalities on CTG and during ultrasound may be observed. If preeclampsia started early enough, lightness, bleeding disorders, and other malfunctions can be observed. So do not neglect medical care.