Preeclampsia and Eclampsia
Preeclampsia and Eclampsia
Preeclampsia can cause rare but serious complications in moms-to-be, including:
Preeclampsia can affect your babies if it prevents the placenta from getting enough blood to provide adequate food and oxygen. The result can be that your babies are born very small. Preeclampsia is also one of the leading causes of premature birth. Being premature puts babies at risk for many other health problems.
Preeclampsia can also cause the placenta to suddenly separate from the uterus, which is called placental abruption. This can cause stillbirth.
The only cure for preeclampsia and eclampsia is to deliver your babies. Your doctor will talk with you about when to deliver based on how far along your babies are, how well your babies are doing in your womb, and the severity of your preeclampsia.
If you have preeclampsia, your doctor may plan to deliver your babies early. Delivering babies by 36 to 37 weeks can keep preeclampsia from getting worse.
If your babies are not close to term, you and your doctor may be able to treat your preeclampsia until your babies have developed enough to be safely delivered. The closer the birth is to your due date, the better for your babies.
If you have mild preeclampsia, your doctor may prescribe:
Your doctor also may recommend that you stay in the hospital for closer monitoring. In the hospital you may be given:
For severe preeclampsia, your doctor may need to deliver your babies right away, even if you're not close to term.
After delivery, signs and symptoms of preeclampsia should go away within one to six weeks.
Preeclampsia and Eclampsia
In this article
- What Causes Preeclampsia?
- What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Preeclampsia?
- How Can Preeclampsia Affect My Babies and Me?
- What Is the Treatment for Preeclampsia and Eclampsia?
How Can Preeclampsia Affect My Babies and Me?
Preeclampsia can cause rare but serious complications in moms-to-be, including:
- Stroke
- Seizure
- Water in the lungs
- Heart failure
- Reversible blindness
- Bleeding from the liver
- Bleeding after you've given birth
Preeclampsia can affect your babies if it prevents the placenta from getting enough blood to provide adequate food and oxygen. The result can be that your babies are born very small. Preeclampsia is also one of the leading causes of premature birth. Being premature puts babies at risk for many other health problems.
Preeclampsia can also cause the placenta to suddenly separate from the uterus, which is called placental abruption. This can cause stillbirth.
What Is the Treatment for Preeclampsia and Eclampsia?
The only cure for preeclampsia and eclampsia is to deliver your babies. Your doctor will talk with you about when to deliver based on how far along your babies are, how well your babies are doing in your womb, and the severity of your preeclampsia.
If you have preeclampsia, your doctor may plan to deliver your babies early. Delivering babies by 36 to 37 weeks can keep preeclampsia from getting worse.
If your babies are not close to term, you and your doctor may be able to treat your preeclampsia until your babies have developed enough to be safely delivered. The closer the birth is to your due date, the better for your babies.
If you have mild preeclampsia, your doctor may prescribe:
- Bed rest either at home or in the hospital. You'll be asked to rest mostly on your left side.
- Careful observation with a fetal heart rate monitor and frequent ultrasounds
- Medicines to lower your blood pressure
- Blood and urine tests
Your doctor also may recommend that you stay in the hospital for closer monitoring. In the hospital you may be given:
- Medicine to help prevent seizures, lower your blood pressure, and prevent other problems
- Steroid injections to help your babies' lungs develop more quickly
For severe preeclampsia, your doctor may need to deliver your babies right away, even if you're not close to term.
After delivery, signs and symptoms of preeclampsia should go away within one to six weeks.
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