Pregnancy poisoning (preeclampsia) is a serious condition that occurs during pregnancy that endanger the health of both mother and baby. So what does preeclampsia mean? What are the causes of pregnancy poisoning? How is pregnancy poisoning treated? You can find the answers to all these questions in the rest of the article.
What is Pregnancy Poisoning (Preeclampsia)?
Preeclampsia, also known as pregnancy poisoning, is characterized by high blood pressure, that is, high blood pressure, which usually starts after the 20th week of pregnancy. is a disease. This increase in blood pressure in preeclampsia causes damage to various organs, especially the liver and kidney. Preeclampsia can have serious consequences that endanger the life of the mother and the baby. When preeclampsia causes seizures from the mother, it is called eclampsia. Although eclampsia is rare, it is a condition that can threaten the life of mother and baby just like preeclampsia.
What are the Symptoms of Pregnancy Toxicity?
Preeclampsia can sometimes develop without causing any symptoms. In preeclampsia, blood pressure may rise slowly over time, or it may rise suddenly. Since the first sign of preeclampsia is high blood pressure, pregnant women should have their blood pressure checked regularly during prenatal checkups. A blood pressure over 140/90 mmHg during pregnancy means high blood pressure (when measured at least twice, at a minimum of 4 hours apart). Some of the signs and symptoms seen in pregnancy poisoning are as follows:
- Protein in the urine (proteinuria) and other conditions that may occur due to kidney damage,
- Severe headache,
- Vision problems such as blurred vision, sensitivity to light, temporary vision loss,
- Pain felt in the upper right region of the abdomen,
- Nausea, vomiting,
- Reduction in urine output,
- Reduction in the number of platelets (thrombocytopenia),
- Deterioration in liver functions,
- Dyspnea due to fluid accumulation in the lungs.
Pregnancy Toxicity What Why does it happen?
The reason why preeclampsia develops has not been fully clarified yet. However, it is thought that the development of preeclampsia may be related to the placenta, which provides nutrition to the fetus during pregnancy. In the early period of pregnancy, new blood vessels form in the mother in order to send sufficient blood to the placenta. In women with preeclampsia, blood vessel formation does not occur properly or does not function properly. The newly formed vessels in women with preeclampsia are narrower than they should be and cannot fully respond to hormonal changes. As a result, all these reduce the blood flow from the newly formed vessels to the placenta. Problems in the development and function of vessels in women with preeclampsia may occur due to the factors listed below. Some of these are as follows:
- Insufficient blood flow to the uterus,
- Damage of blood vessels,
- Problems with the immune system,
- Various genes.
- History of Preeclampsia: People who have had pregnancy poisoning in their previous pregnancies are more likely to experience the same problem in their next pregnancies.
- Chronic Hypertension: High before pregnancy Women with high blood pressure are at risk for the development of preeclampsia during pregnancy.
- First Pregnancy: The probability of a woman to have preeclampsia is at the highest level in her first pregnancy.
- New Father: The risk of preeclampsia in every new partner increases. Compared to the second or third pregnancies from the same person, the risk of preeclampsia is higher in the second and third pregnancies from a new partner. .
- Obesity: The possibility of pregnancy poisoning is higher in obese women.
- Multiple Pregnancy: Multiple pregnancies with twins, triplets or more babies pose a risk for preeclampsia.
- Time Between Pregnancies: Between two pregnancies Less than 2 years or more than 10 years increase the possibility of preeclampsia.
- Some Diseases: Preeclampsia in women who had diseases such as type 1 or type 2 diabetes, hypertension, migraine, blood coagulation disorder, lupus before pregnancy It is more likely to be seen.
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): The risk of preeclampsia may increase in pregnancies that are conceived through IVF, or in vitro fertilization as popularly known.
How is Pregnancy Poisoning Diagnosed?
In order to diagnose preeclampsia, first of all, the symptoms of the patient are questioned and then an examination is performed. Preeclampsia can be diagnosed if a pregnant woman has one or more of the following symptoms in addition to high blood pressure:
- Protein leakage in the urine (proteinuria),
- Low platelet count in the blood,
- Deterioration in liver functions
- Presence of findings indicating kidney damage other than proteinuria,
- Fluid accumulation in the lung (pulmonary edema),
- New onset headache or vision disorders.
How is the Treatment of Preeclampsia?
The most effective treatment for pregnancy poisoning is delivery. As the high blood pressure in preeclampsia continues, the possibility of complications such as seizures, stroke, premature separation of the placenta, and severe bleeding increases. In cases where delivery is not preferred as a treatment option in the treatment of preeclampsia, medical treatment can be started. Some of the drugs used in the treatment of pregnancy poisoning are as follows:
- Drugs that Lower Blood Pressure: These drugs, also known as antihypertensives, are used in cases where blood pressure is severely high. Although there are many different types of drugs for lowering blood pressure, not all of these drugs are suitable for use during pregnancy. Therefore, no antihypertensive drug should be used during pregnancy. A doctor should be consulted before starting the pregnancy.
- Corticosteroids: In women with severe preeclampsia, these drugs can improve liver and platelet functions and allow pregnancy to continue for a while. In addition, corticosteroids prepare the baby against a possible premature birth by accelerating the baby's lung development.
- Anticonvulsants: Anticonvulsant drugs such as magnesium sulfate can be used to prevent seizure development in women with severe preeclampsia.
Which Week of Pregnancy Poisoning Occurs?
Preeclampsia is mostly seen after the 20th week of pregnancy. Pregnancy poisoning is rarely encountered before the 20th week. In some cases, preeclampsia may develop in the first 4 weeks after birth, but this is also rare.
Does Pregnancy Poisoning Harm the Baby?
Preeclampsia can cause problems of different severity on both the mother and the baby. The most common effects of preeclampsia on babies are as follows:
- Restricted Fetal Development: The low blood flow from the mother to the placenta in pregnancy poisoning causes the baby to receive less oxygen and less nutrients. Problems such as growth retardation and low birth weight may occur in babies who are fed less. Various problems, especially respiratory distress, can be seen in babies born prematurely. Placental abruption can cause excessive bleeding, risking the life of both mother and baby.
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