Blood Pressure: Eclampsia How is eclampsia treated?

Eclampsia

During pregnancy, some women experience preeclampsia. All expecting women are checked for preeclampsia during their prenatal visits. In the United States eclampsia occurs in less than 2% of pregnancies. If preeclampsia is not treated it can lead to eclampsia. Eclampsia is the last stage of preeclampsia and the most severe. Women that experience eclampsia often have seizures and can die from complications. Although eclampsia is most common in the third trimester and immediately following delivery, eclampsia can occur at any point during pregnancy or after delivery. Eclampsia leads to seizures and possibly coma.

Medical research and recent technology makes it easier for doctors to diagnose preeclampsia early on. The number of deaths from eclampsia has significantly dropped in past years. Mothers that experience complications of eclampsia often have seizures, kidney problems, bleeding of the brain and permanent neural damage. Babies of affected mothers often experience death from prematurity, placental problems and lack of oxygen.

Although preeclampsia and eclampsia affect women of all ages, it seems that women under 20 and older than 40 are most likely to develop the condition. If a woman already has high blood pressure her chances of developing eclampsia are significantly higher during pregnancy. Other risk factors inlcude being infected with lupus, carrying more than one child, poor prenatal care or a family history of hypertension.

During an eclamptic seizure, a woman may experience more than one seizure and the seizures usually last about 60 seconds each. Her face might become distorted and foaming at the mouth is not uncommon. Breathing normally stops for the remainder of the seizure. During a seizure a woman may twitch and her body will become rigid with muscular contractions. She may also bite her tongue, obtain head injuries or other types of broken bones from falls. Generally after a seizure the woman will slip into a coma or period of unconsciousness. When the woman regains consciousness she may be combative, aggresive and agitated. However, after the seizure has passed she will not remember the event.

Because eclamptic seizures are life-threatening emergencies, immediate medical care is necessary. Pregnant women that develop eclampsia should be monitored closely and any woman that has experienced an actual eclamptic seizure will have continuous medical treatment. Lab tests, specimens and other types of monitoring will be performed.

The only treatment for eclampsia is delivery. However, no delivery should be induced during any type of seizure or coma. When the mother is stabilized, doctors will consider inducing a vaginal delivery with pitocin if the mother is atleast 30 weeks of gestation or if the cervix is dilated. If the mother is less than 30 weeks or her cervix is not dilated, a cesarean delivery should be performed. During delivery it is important that both mother and baby are monitored closely.

* 25% of all cases occur before delivery
* 50% of all cases occur during labor
* 25% of all cases occur after delivery



Comments: Blood Pressure - Eclampsia

Comments 1 to 11 of about 11.


djsnjones - 84 days ago.
I have a suggestion for something that you could try for the next 48 hrs and see if it helps....eat something every hour that has protein in it, like a handful of nuts, or a handful of trail mix (the kind without candies), or a handful of cheese cubes, or a cup of yogurt. :-)

*kaykay* - 85 days ago.
I have already been diagosed with this at bout 28 weeks. I was working at the time and since I was put off work it has been relatively good. The past two weeks now my feet have been swollen and my B/P has been around 160/90 or higher with trace amounts of protien in my urine. It feels like nobody cares. The ob/gyn I have doesn't look at the numbers on the sheet, all he does is listen to the baby's heart and say see you next time. It's really frusterating. Thanfully I get to see my family doctor tomorrow (first time in 3 weeks) so hopefully she will alleviate some of my fears. So frustrating...

janeo - 95 days ago.
I had none of the usual pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness, cravings, swelling etc. I did have extreme high blood pressure (140+ / 110 +) from when I found out I was pregnant at 6 weeks to the unfortunate end of my traumatic experience at 23 weeks. Pre-eclampsia symptoms i experienced was visual disturbance like fireworks going off in my eyes to the extent where i could not see. Tiredness and headaches, i would get home from work and collapse on the bed not to get back up again until the next morning and go to work again. I also had soreness in my legs just before the seizu, like i couldn't even walk on my feet, shooting pains up the legs.... At 21 weeks i suffered an eclamptic seizure, whisked to hospital, the week in hospital was a nightmare. my baby had stopped growing from this seizure (oxygen deprived to baby) and the only option was to give birth at 23 wks, Jamie Rose born 375 grms, she died 30 mins later..we choose not to use machines or med intervention on Jamie.. .. the advice I can give to ladies out there with high blood pressure during pregnancy is to monitor your bp daily yourself, get the best advice and never underestimate the power of this condition. Each day i think if only I took my BP more seriously and put myself on bedrest instead of rushing around trying to hold work, home and everything else. After baby is born it is a slow process to recovery physically. Mentally I am unsure about the whole lot of it, still i found it unbelievable that this has happened to me. I hope next time around it will be alot more straightforward and with a positive outcome. ANYONE out there with information relating to eclampsia and what can minimise the chances this condition during pregnancy please let me know.

bubsontheway - 170 days ago.
i just wanted to share my unfortunate experiance with eclampsia, the doctors didn't pick it up till it was to late and as a result my baby girl ended up being born still born, i was 26 wks pregnant and that was with my 4th child so my advise to all pregnant women is to be really aware of the condition and to read as much information on it as you can because it can really just happen to anyone, i don't want scare or take the fun away from this wonderful time. i just want to spread the word to make people more aware of it.

jensay - 200 days ago.
maddoxsmamma- I noticed your post was a while ago so i hope ur still checking. I just wanted to let u know i went though the same thing I had eclampsia with grandmal seziures. I feel the same way. Now that im pregnant with my second they are watching me and the baby really closely. So i hope they catch it earlier this time... anyways just wanted to let you know i know how you feel.

smarties3000 - 228 days ago.
i had pre eclepsia with my first child, i got really swollen and the midwife found ketones and protiens in my urine, witch are signs of it. i also had high blood pressure, all this led to me being admited to hospital and was in for a week and then they induced my labour at 37 weeks. laubour and baby where fine though.

*Jenn-n-KC* - 236 days ago.
theres not really any symptoms that you can feel. um my face swelled up all of the sudden one day and thats a sign. i would suggest taking your blood pressure yourself every day just to be sure

nyam123 - 254 days ago.
What are the symptoms of Eclampsia or preeclampsia? The article doesn't really say.

maddoxsmomma - 268 days ago.
Tess42: You are not kidding about her BP. That is good to hear that she is ok. In the end all I really want ti s a healthy baby but if I get the experience too, it will just be an added bonus. Thanks for sharing

Tess42 - 269 days ago.
Maddoxsmomma: I did not, but I was with my sister-in-law when her blood pressure went to something astronomical like, 200/110. She was full blown eclamptic and rushed to the hospital. They got her BP down, but she stayed in the hospital on a pitocin drip. After two days, they finally went in an did a cesarean -- which, she really SHOULD have had right away. Yes, I think it dampened the experience for her a bit, but ultimately, because she was safe and so was her baby, that was all that really mattered to her. Best of luck to you!

maddoxsmomma - 269 days ago.
Has anybody had eclampsia? I had preeclampsia with progressed quickly into eclampsia and I had two gran mal seizures. I dont really remember anything about my sons birth. Its quite depressing at times when other moms talk about their delivery adn I cant do the same. Anyway, just wanted to see if anyone had stories to share.





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