Blood Pressure:Preeclampsia

How is preeclampsia handled during pregnancy?

What Is Preeclampsia????
Preeclampsia is a condition that typically starts after the 20th week of pregnancy and is related to increased blood pressure and protein in the mother's urine (as a result of kidney problems). Preeclampsia affects the placenta and it can affect the mother's kidney, liver and brain. When preeclampsia causes seizures the condition is known as eclampsia--the second leading cause of maternal death in the U.S. Preeclampsia is also a leading cause of fetal complications, which include low birth weight, premature birth, and stillbirth.

There is no proven way to prevent preeclampsia. Most women who develop signs of preeclampsia are closely monitored to lessen or avoid related problems. The only way to 'cure' preeclampsia is to deliver the baby. High blood pressure video


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How Common Are High Blood Pressure and Preeclampsia in Pregnancy?

High blood pressure problems occur in 6 percent to 8 percent of all pregnancies in the U.S., about 70 percent of which are first-time pregnancies. In 1998, more than 146,320 cases of preeclampsia alone were diagnosed.

Although the proportion of pregnancies with gestational hypertension and eclampsia has remained about the same in the U.S. over the past decade, the rate of preeclampsia has increased by nearly one-third. This increase is due in part to a rise in the numbers of older mothers and of multiple births, where preeclampsia occurs more frequently. For example, in 1998 birth rates among women ages 30 to 44 and the number of births to women ages 45 and older were at the highest levels in 3 decades, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Furthermore, between 1980 and 1998, rates of twin births increased about 50 percent overall and 1,000 percent among women ages 45 to 49; rates of triplet and other higher-order multiple births jumped more than 400 percent overall, and 1,000 percent among women in their 40s.

Who Is More Likely to Develop Preeclampsia?

• Women with chronic hypertension (high blood pressure before becoming pregnant).
• Women who developed high blood pressure or preeclampsia during a previous pregnancy, especially if these conditions occurred early in the pregnancy.
• Women who are obese prior to pregnancy.
• Pregnant women under the age of 20 or over the age of 40.
• Women who are pregnant with more than one baby.
• Women with diabetes, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or scleroderma.

How Is Preeclampsia Detected?

Unfortunately, there is no single test to predict or diagnose preeclampsia. Key signs are increased blood pressure and protein in the urine (proteinuria). Other symptoms that seem to occur with preeclampsia include persistent headaches, blurred vision, sensitivity to light and abdominal pain.

All of these sensations can be caused by other disorders and they can also occur in healthy pregnancies. Regular visits with your doctor help him or her to track your blood pressure and level of protein in your urine, to order and analyze blood tests that detect signs of preeclampsia and to monitor fetal development more closely.

Does Hypertension or Preeclampsia During Pregnancy Cause Long-Term Heart and Blood Vessel Problems?

The effects of high blood pressure during pregnancy vary depending on the disorder and other factors. According to the National High Blood Pressure Education Program (NHBPEP), preeclampsia does not in general increase a woman's risk for developing chronic hypertension or other heart-related problems. The NHBPEP also reports that in women with normal blood pressure who develop preeclampsia after the 20th week of their first pregnancy, short-term complications--including increased blood pressure--usually go away within about 6 weeks after delivery.

Some women, however, may be more likely to develop high blood pressure or other heart disease later in life. More research is needed to determine the long-term health effects of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and to develop better methods for identifying, diagnosing and treating women at risk for these conditions.

Prevention

Despite initial enthusiasm for the use of calcium supplements and low-dose aspirin therapy, these agents appear to be ineffective in the prevention of high blood pressure.

Comments: Blood Pressure - Preeclampsia

Comments 1 to 12 of about 12.


Shellie77 - 7 days ago.
Im 26 weeks and was just diagnosed with PE. Its a mild case though, my BP isnt very high yet, last reading was 130/74, my 24 hour urine came back at 336. Im on home modified bedrest for now and going tot he Dr 2x a week. I keep hearing about the mag sulfate being awful, why is that?

juicy - 25 days ago.
Well I've been diagnosed with mild pre-eclampsia since week 31. I've been on bedrest since 29 April 09and in the hospital since 20 May 09. My blood pressures are very brittle, one day up high the next normal. My highest reading has been 167/104. I am currently going crazyin this hospital, but the end is in sight. They are going to induce me on Friday June 12th. So hopefully I won't have to have the mag sulfate, but you never know. The Doc recommends having an epidural, because it has a BP lowering effect.

lourds - 26 days ago.
during my 32nd week check-up my bp was 160/100 and a +1 protein in my urine, my doctor didn't allow me to go home anymore, my bp and fetal heartbeat had to be monitored 24hrs, had 2 steroid injections, medicines evry 4 hours, and a mag sulfate that is suppose to bring ones bp down but to no avail, after 4 days when all else failed to bring my bp down, i gave birth thru cs...

starby - 28 days ago.
I had the IV of mag sulfate for 6 days! That stuff is awful :( I had my baby at 34 weeks due to preeclampsia...I was home on bedrest and my water broke so she was just ready to come out at that point. A week previous I had been hospitalized for high bp and they gave me the steroid shot to mature her lungs which I was so thankful for when she was born because she didnt need breathing tubes or oxygen. She was in great shape for being 6 weeks early but it took a good month and lots of confused doctors to get my blood pressure back down to normal. Just make sure you get all of the rest you can and elevate your feet lots, that helped with all of the swelling I had. I'm sooooooo nervous to get pregnant again because I'm scared of going through all of that again :(

winger - 29 days ago.
i am preeclampsic right now. Does anyone know what i'm in for? How many weeks can i last?

brendalee - 34 days ago.
When I had preelampsia my BP got over 170. When my mom had it my sister ended up dying then with my other sister my mom almost died so I FREAKED out when they said I had it. The 24 HR urine deal was a joke....at the 22 hour mark they just decided to induce and threw out all my pee lol Did anyone get put in an IV to paralyze them to prevent a seizure? That stuff was AWFUL.

mrs m - 92 days ago.
My highest reading was 164/104 and that was after i was given labetalol(bp pills)!!!i spent 10 days in hospital before giving birth and it was the most awful time of my life!!!im really hoping i dont get it with this pregnancy cause my hubby will have to take time off work to look after our young daughter and we cant afford it

Janice2369 - 141 days ago.
My doc sent me home with a urine collection kit. They want me to collect urine for 24 hours due to my high blood pressure. It was 140/70. (which isn't too high from what I'm reading) She said it's going to be used to measure the amount of protein in my urine and create a 'baseline' for future tests. I guess I'll just have to wait and see. For some reason, I'm not freaking out too bad about this. I've never had high blood pressure before and I don't have a bad feeling so I'm not going to stress about it.

kcyc15 - 185 days ago.
when i was pregnant i was diagnosed for preeclampsia my start was at 20wks and my bp was 154/98 then.i was placed on methyldopa for it and diagnosed as highrisk the meds were doing no real justice for me because my bp kept rising.by the time i was 28 weeks i was in the highrisk clinic 3 times a week then that turned into 4 by my 34th week.by 36 weeks they wanted me to come 5 times a week i refused.i had to do a kick count sheet,be monitored on a baby monitor for 2 hrs and take 2 ultrasounds a week....when my daughter was born i thought my bp would be gone...but it crept up to 286/164 the night of her arrival i was so calm and i still didnt understand how or why it was so high.i was advised they would not let me get discharged until my bp went down thats when i was given labiterol...well now im free of meds due to the praises of god.but ladies please eat right and make sure u be very careful cause preeclampsia is serious

Zillah Cain - 193 days ago.
purplepug - I was told that the bottom number is more what people need to worry about more so than the top - although both to me are important.

purplepug - 216 days ago.
hmm i had readings of 160/90 at 3 consecutive hospital appointments and was just advised to rest...

2b - 227 days ago.
Saw the nurse practitioner today and she was concerned about my slowly increasing blood pressure. She read it at 144/94 and says that seemed high. My last visit was 138/87. I have no other signs or symptoms related to preeclampsia. She told me I need to see the OB at my next visit and now I am a bit worried. What do you think??

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