HEALTH

What you need to know about pre-eclampsia in pregnancy

13 July, 2024 . 0

Pre-eclampsia is a serious medical condition that can happen during pregnancy, affecting both mother and baby. But who’s at risk, and can it be treated?

Pre-eclampsia, which is one of the more common complications of pregnancy, can be dangerous for both mother and baby, but it can be managed with early intervention.

Here’s what you should know about the condition.

What exactly is pr-eeclampsia?

Royal Women’s Hospital obstetrics and gynaecology professor Shaun Brennecke says pre-eclampsia is a condition that develops during pregnancy and is characterised by high blood pressure .

“About three to five per cent of all pregnant women in Australia and around the world will suffer pr-eeclampsia,” Prof Brennecke says.

Obstetrician and Mercy Perinatal co-director Professor Stephen Tong says although the exact cause of pre-eclampsia is unknown, it results in the placenta not working as it should, releasing toxins into the mother’s bloodstream and damaging her blood vessels.

Pre-eclampsia causes the mum’s blood pressure to soar, Prof Tong says, and it compromises the healthy blood flow which supplies many of her vital organs.

What are the symptoms of pre-eclampsia?

Prof Tong says pre-eclampsia is often symptomless in its early stages, and is usually detected when a blood pressure test is done at a routine check-up.

In more severe cases, symptoms can include:

Headache
Abdominal pain
Sudden swelling in the face, hands and feet
Heartburn that doesn’t go away with medication

If left untreated, pre-eclampsia can lead to serious complications, including convulsions (known as eclampsia), kidney problems and liver failure.

Prof Tong says to consult your doctor if you experience symptoms, but to not to jump to conclusions because in most cases, pre-eclampsia won’t be the cause.

“If your blood pressure is normal, you can pretty much exclude pre-eclampsia,” he says.

How is pre-eclampsia diagnosed?

Prof Tong says if a woman has high blood pressure during pregnancy, urine and blood tests will be done to check if her organs are functioning properly.

If not, she may have pre-eclampsia.

Australian Action on Pre-eclampsia (AAPEC) president Dr Lynne Roberts developed the condition when she was pregnant with her first son, and says it is crucial for expectant mothers to get regular check-ups.

“Often you feel well, like I did – I felt very well and yet my body wasn’t very well,” Dr Roberts says.

“It (pre-eclampsia) was picked up on a normal visit to my obstetrician and that’s when I was put into hospital for closer monitoring.

“It all got very bad very quickly … So it was a good thing I was well monitored.”

Am I at risk of pre-eclampsia?

Prof Brennecke says risk factors include already having high blood pressure, diabetes or an autoimmune condition; being 40 years old or older; or having a family history of pre-eclampsia.

He says pre-eclampsia is most likely to develop in a woman’s first pregnancy but may also recur in subsequent pregnancies.

How can pre-eclampsia affect my baby?

The placenta is a baby’s life support system, providing oxygen and nutrients to a growing fetus, Prof Tong explains, so when a placenta is not functioning properly, it can limit a baby’s growth.

He says if pre-eclampsia develops preterm, which means the baby is not ready to be born yet, healthcare professionals will watch the mother closely while waiting for the fetus to grow.

Prof Tong says when pre-eclampsia occurs at very preterm gestations, even an extra week of growth can make a big difference in a baby’s development.

However, if too much damage is being done to the mother’s organs, they will deliver the baby.

How is pre-eclampsia treated?

Prof Tong says there is no medicine yet that can slow or reverse the progressive disorder.

Medication can be used to help lower blood pressure, but the only known cure for pre-eclampsia is for the baby to be delivered and the placenta to be passed.

Prof Brennecke says women who have experienced pre-eclampsia are more at risk of cardiovascular disease including hypertension, heart attacks and stroke later in life, so they should continue to get regular blood pressure checks.

Dr Roberts says women should also prioritise their mental health and wellbeing as pre-eclampsia can lead to depression or post-traumatic stress disorder.

“This experience can affect women’s mental health; it certainly affected mine,” she says.

“I always advise women to seek help if they’re just not feeling right emotionally.”

“A lot of them will just brush it aside because they’ve got a baby to care for, but it’s really important.”

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Written by Brittany Busch.