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Fall 2018
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preeclampsia
: bef?re and after ?egnancy by melanie forstall lemoine, ph.d. i f you have uncontrolled blood
pressure
, even when you are not pregnant, it can lead to a variety of health issues, including heart disease and stroke. if you have high blood pressure while you are pregnant, there can be additional complications for both you and your baby which can increase these health risks and even lead to preeclampsia. preeclampsia is a condition that occurs during pregnancy, and is characterized by the onset of high blood pressure in combination with other physical symptoms. this condition can have life-threatening effects on both you and your little one, therefore, it must be addressed quickly. while this condition can be treated, it is important to understand the signs, symptoms, and risk factors associated with it. signs and symptoms according to the preeclampsia foundation, preeclampsia occurs in approximately five to eight percent of all pregnancies, and onset typically starts after 20 weeks of gestation and lasts through six weeks postpartum (after delivery). signs and symptoms of preeclampsia can include swelling of face and hands, persistent headache, changes in vision or eyesight, sudden changes in weight, and difficulty breathing in combination with the onset of high blood pressure. dr. laurie whitaker, ob/ gyn of louisiana women?s healthcare associates, clarifies, ?there are several symptoms that a woman can have. some women may have just one symptom and others may have a combination of several symptoms. high blood pressure must be present with one of these symptoms for it to be preeclampsia.? high blood pressure is especially problematic during pregnancy. according to dr. whitaker, ?high blood pressure during pregnancy can place extra stress on the heart and kidneys, and can increase the mother?s risk of heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke.? treating preeclampsia the most effective treatment for preeclampsia is delivering the baby, however, this treatment can be dependent upon several factors. ?the mother can remain pregnant as long as her symptoms and blood pressure are stable,? says dr. whitaker, ?however, if there are any signs that her condition is worsening, delivery is recommended. often, women with preeclampsia will not go past 37 weeks.? while delivering the baby will essentially cure mom to be of preeclampsia, according to the national institutes of health, there are other options if diagnosed earlier in the pregnancy and delivery is not the safest option. if preeclampsia is mild, it may be possible to wait; opting for frequent monitoring (blood tests, ultrasounds) and bedrest to keep blood pressure low. in severe cases, mom will be admitted to the hospital and may even be given medications to control blood pressure and magnesium sulfate to reduce the risk of seizures. once a woman is diagnosed with preeclampsia, she is seven to eight times more likely to have it with subsequent pregnancies. local mom, amy vandeveer christina knows this reality well. diagnosed with preeclampsia with her first pregnancy, her symptoms were severe enough to require delivery of her son at 35 weeks. ?with each subsequent 2 4 p i n k ? b l u e | f a l l 2 0 1 8
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