Symptoms of preeclampsia in pregnant women and the fetus that must be watched out for

About 10 to 15 percent of pregnant women worldwide die from preeclampsia. There is no treatment that can cure preeclampsia in pregnant women. That is why it is important for pregnant women to know the symptoms of preeclampsia early in order to reduce the risk of more severe pregnancy complications. The following are signs of preeclampsia that need to be watched out for.

Overview of preeclampsia in pregnant women

Preeclampsia or preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication caused by high blood pressure, even though the pregnant woman has no previous history of hypertension.

This condition usually occurs in pregnancies that enter the age of 20 weeks. If not treated properly, this disease can cause serious complications to the mother and the baby's life.

Preeclampsia occurs due to disruption in the growth and development of the placenta. This causes disruption of blood flow to both the baby and the mother.

Early in pregnancy, blood vessels begin to fully develop to carry blood to the placenta. There are several signs of preeclampsia that pregnant women need to understand.

Differences between gestational hypertension and preeclampsia

In the journal quoted by the Prevent Hypertency website, gestational hypertension is a condition of high blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg. This condition is diagnosed after 20 weeks of pregnancy without previous preeclampsia.

Meanwhile, preeclampsia is a condition of high diastolic blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg in pregnant women over 20 weeks who previously had normal blood pressure.

Signs and symptoms of preeclampsia in pregnant women

Preeclampsia is a serious condition in pregnancy that is very dangerous because the symptoms of preeclampsia are often not known or realized by pregnant women.

Sometimes, the symptoms of preeclampsia are similar to normal pregnancy as usual. In order for pregnant women to be more alert, here are some signs and symptoms of preeclampsia that need to be understood:

High blood pressure

High blood pressure during pregnancy is a very dangerous condition and can be a sign of preeclampsia. In fact, although not as a symptom of preeclampsia, high blood pressure is another problem.

The upper limit of high blood pressure was 140/90 mmHG which was measured twice under different circumstances and time lags. What to do when you experience this one preeclampsia symptom?

You need to know your blood pressure before becoming pregnant, especially if pregnant women have low blood pressure (anemia). This is important so that you know the limits of blood pressure before and after giving birth.

Quoted from the Preeclampsia page, as the gestational age gets bigger, the doctor will suggest a sleeping position for pregnant women lying on the left side.

This allows blood circulation in the body to remain smooth so that the baby can continue to receive nutrients and oxygen through the placenta without a hitch.

Urine contains protein (proteinuria)

Proteinuria is a sign of preeclampsia that can be found on a medical examination. This condition means that the protein, which is usually only in the blood, is spilled into the urine.

This occurs because the renal filtering caused by preeclampsia destroys the filter. The type of protein that is lost due to this condition is albumin.

How to check this one sign of preeclampsia must be done when pregnant women are consulting an obstetrician. The nurse will dip the strip in the urine sample, it works similarlytest pack.

If the strip produces 1+ or more results, it is a sign that you have preeclampsia, even if the pregnant woman's blood pressure is below 140/90.

If you have experienced signs of preeclampsia before, you can buy reagent strips at the pharmacy for a home examination. However, if you lack confidence and are afraid of mistakes, you can check with your doctor.

Swelling (edema) in the legs

It is common to have swollen feet during pregnancy. However, it can be unnatural if you have so much fluid in your legs that they make them swollen worse. This is one of the symptoms of preeclampsia that is often underestimated because it is considered normal.

This edema or swelling occurs due to excess fluid in the body. It usually occurs on the feet, face, eyes and hands. Then, what can be done if you experience this one preeclampsia symptom?

If pregnant women feel that their face is more puffy and swollen than before pregnancy, plus the condition of swelling in the hands and feet to press on the fingers, immediately consult a doctor because this is a sign of preeclampsia.

If you want to take preventive measures, avoid sitting for too long and usually put your feet higher than your body when you are lying down.

Headache

The next preeclampsia symptom that needs attention is a very severe throbbing headache. Sometimes, the pain is similar to a migraine that is often difficult to go away.

You can take headache medications that are safe for pregnant women. If you want to avoid drugs, you can reduce the transfer of light too fast (for those who have sensitivity to light).

Nausea and vomiting

If in the middle of pregnancy you experience nausea to vomiting, that's a symptom of preeclampsia to watch out for. The reason is, morning sickness will only occur in the first trimester and disappear in the second and third trimesters.

You need to be vigilant when nausea and vomiting in mid-pregnancy because they can be symptoms of preeclampsia. Immediately check your blood pressure and proteinuria in your urine.

Pain in the abdominal area and shoulders

Pain in this area is called epigastric pain which is usually felt under the ribs on the right side. This one symptom of preeclampsia is usually disguised by heartburn, indigestion, or pain from a baby kick.

The difference between regular shoulder pain and the symptoms of preeclampsia is that it feels like something is pinching along the bra strap or in the neck.

Sometimes this condition makes you sick when you lie on your right side. This pain symptom is a sign of HELLP syndrome or a problem in the liver (liver). Do not ignore it, immediately consult a doctor for further treatment.

Lower back pain

Low back pain is the most common pregnancy complaint and is often overlooked as a symptom of preeclampsia. In fact, this shows a sign of preeclampsia that should be watched out for. If you experience lower back pain plus abdominal pain, consult a doctor immediately.

Weight gain 3-5 kilograms within a week

Weighing body weight becomes a routine activity during pregnancy. If pregnant women gain 3-5 kilograms of weight in just a week, it is an indicator of preeclampsia symptoms. This weight gain results from water in the damaged tissues of the body, which then does not pass through the kidneys to be excreted.

What needs to be done if you experience preeclampsia symptoms is to avoid losing weight during pregnancy.

It is better to consume healthy and balanced foods, such as fruits, vegetables, vitamins for pregnant women which are important for pregnancy. Avoid consuming excessive salt because it can trigger symptoms of preeclampsia.

When do preeclampsia symptoms appear?

Launching from WebMD, preeclampsia symptoms can come as early as 20 weeks of pregnancy, but this condition is very rare. Usually, preeclampsia symptoms begin to appear after 32-34 weeks of gestation.

But there are also in some cases, the symptoms of preeclampsia come 48 hours after delivery and can last for 12 weeks. It's just that the symptoms of preeclampsia tend to go away on their own.

Symptoms of preeclampsia seen in the fetus in the womb

The most typical symptom of preeclampsia in an unborn baby is slow growth. This is caused by poor blood supply through the placenta to the baby.

This condition makes the baby get less oxygen and nutrients so that it affects their development. This incident causes the baby to experience limited intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

Although less common, this condition can also occur for the first time during the first six weeks after delivery.

Most people experience only mild symptoms of preeclampsia. However, it is important to treat these symptoms immediately so that they do not get worse or complications occur.

Generally, the earlier the symptoms of preeclampsia are detected, the greater the chance for the mother and pregnancy to avoid the risk of complications.