Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy that occurs only during pregnancy or after childbirth. The cause of preeclampsia is still unclear. There are various hypotheses that doctors have speculated, such as:

• It is caused by a malfunctioning placenta, which causes certain substances to stimulate blood vessels to contract violently, resulting in blood pressure higher than 140/90 mmHg.

• It is caused by abnormalities in the implantation of the placenta in the uterine wall, which results in insufficient oxygen supply to the fetus and the release of certain toxins into the bloodstream, which adversely affects the pregnant mother and the baby, and may lead to various complications.

• Caused by protein or albumin leaking into the urine.

Symptoms of preeclampsia

• Headache, blurred vision 

• Feeling nauseous and vomiting

• I feel pain in the area below my sternum. 

• Unusually rapid weight gain, swelling of the face, hands and feet

• High blood pressure 

• If the symptoms are severe, there may be seizures, vaginal bleeding, or the fetus moves less, etc. If these symptoms occur, the mother should be taken to see a doctor immediately.

Risk factors that cause preeclampsia

• Caused by genetics, if it is found that someone in the family has had preeclampsia before.

• Pregnant women aged 35 years and over

• Obesity or being overweight 

• Pregnant women for the first time 

• Women who are pregnant with twins or are pregnant with more than one child

• Women who have experienced this condition during a previous pregnancy 

• Women who have difficulty conceiving

• Have chronic diseases such as diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, etc.

Severity of preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is divided into 3 levels:

Mild level 

The mother will have high blood pressure of 140/90-160/110 mmHg, but will not have any complications.

Severe level 

The mother will have blood pressure higher than 160/110 mmHg and will start to have various complications such as hepatitis, low platelets, reduced kidney function, and hemolysis.

Danger level 

The mother has seizures, stiffness, and loss of consciousness. At this stage, treatment must be received as soon as possible. โปรโมชั่นพิเศษจาก UFABET สมัครตอนนี้ รับโบนัสทันที because it can cause death to both the mother and the baby.

Complications of preeclampsia

• Premature birth: Sometimes, the danger of preeclampsia may be one of the reasons that makes the decision to give birth prematurely to avoid possible harm to the baby. And when born prematurely, it will directly affect the health of the baby.

• Placental abruption, in which the placenta may detach or fall off prematurely. If this happens, there will be severe bleeding, which can have serious consequences, including death for both the mother and the fetus.

• Abnormal fetal growth: Preeclampsia causes the baby to receive less essential substances such as nutrients and oxygen. As a result, the baby may have a low birth weight when it is time to deliver.

• Seizures This symptom is very dangerous for the fetus and the mother because seizures often do not show any symptoms or signs. When the mother has a seizure, the doctor must terminate the pregnancy for the mother’s safety.

• HELLP syndrome is a very severe condition that can lead to death. It causes damage to multiple organs. It can occur without any noticeable warning signs. If symptoms do occur, they can be observed as follows: headache, vomiting, nausea, etc.

• Damage to other organs: Many parts of the mother’s body can be damaged, such as the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. The extent of the damage varies depending on the severity of the preeclampsia.

Diagnosis of preeclampsia

• In the initial health examination, the doctor will ask about the medical history of the patient and family. Then, they will check to see if there are any abnormal symptoms, such as blurred vision or persistent headaches. 

• Blood tests can check platelet counts and liver and kidney function. 

• Urine test to find albumin or protein in urine. If protein is found in the urine, the doctor will send a urine sample to the laboratory for confirmation.

• Blood pressure measurement will measure blood pressure levels to see if the mother is at risk of preeclampsia. If the blood pressure level is higher than 140/90 mmHg, the mother may be at risk of preeclampsia. The doctor may have to measure blood pressure several times, which will be spaced at least 4 hours apart. 

• A baby’s health check to see the baby’s heart rate when the baby moves or kicks. The doctor may consider using an ultrasound to see the baby’s movement, breathing, and muscle movement, etc.