This is one of the most beautiful periods of your life. While you are waiting for a new member to join the family, you should take the utmost care of your health. During pregnancy, many changes occur in our bodies. Some of them are normal, but there are some things we need to be a little careful about. One of the things we need to pay special attention to is a condition that can be a little dangerous, called preeclampsia . Some people also call it toxemia. Today, we will talk about this simply, in a way that you can understand.
Simply put, what is preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a serious condition that occurs during pregnancy. It involves two main things. One is a sudden increase in your blood pressure, or pressure . The other is a high level of protein in your urine . This condition usually occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy, which is five months. Sometimes it can occur during delivery, or even up to six weeks after delivery.
Think about it, our body has a delicate system of blood vessels that supply blood to the organs, right? In this situation, those vessels are damaged, making it difficult for blood to flow through them. That's why the pressure increases. This can affect your major organs like your kidneys, liver, and brain, as well as the blood supply to the placenta, which carries nutrients to the baby.
Why is this situation dangerous?
Most mothers with preeclampsia give birth to healthy babies. However, if left untreated, it can be dangerous for both mother and baby.
- Effects on the baby: When the placenta does not receive enough blood, the baby does not get the oxygen and nutrients it needs. This can lead to low birth weight , premature delivery , and breathing difficulties after birth.
- Effects on you (the mother): This can put pressure on organs like your kidneys, liver, and brain. If the condition gets worse, you may experience a condition called seizures or convulsions . This is called eclampsia. It is a very sudden and dangerous condition.
Therefore, it is very important to be aware of these symptoms and seek treatment on time.
What are the warning signs to watch out for?
Sometimes this condition can occur without any symptoms. That's why you should go to the clinic and have your blood pressure and protein in your urine checked regularly. But you should be very careful about the following symptoms. If you have any of these, you should talk to your doctor immediately .
| Warning feature | What to know about this |
|---|---|
| Body swelling | It's normal for your ankles to be a little swollen. But if your face, hands, and upper body are very swollen when you wake up in the morning, that's not normal. |
| Severe headache | It's not a normal headache, it's a persistent, severe headache that doesn't go away even with medication . |
| Vision changes | Blurred vision, seeing lights before the eyes, seeing floating dots, or sensitivity to light. |
| Upper abdominal pain | Pain, especially on the right side, under the ribs . This can be a sign that the liver is affected. |
| Seizure | This is a very serious and emergency situation. If this happens, it means the condition has turned into Eclampsia. You should go to a hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) immediately. |
What can we do?
Although there is no way to completely prevent this condition, there are several things we can do to reduce the risk and detect it early.
1. Go to the clinic on the scheduled date.
This is the most important thing. From the day you find out you are pregnant , attend the antenatal clinic regularly . There, doctors and family health workers will check your weight, blood pressure , and urine regularly. These tests can detect the condition even before symptoms appear.
2. Adjust your lifestyle
- Rest: Get as much rest as possible. Especially sleeping on your left side helps blood flow to your baby and your organs.
- Diet: Reduce salt intake . Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Take the prenatal vitamins prescribed by your doctor.
- Exercise: If you have a condition like chronic high blood pressure , talk to your doctor and get it under control. Under your doctor's advice, engage in simple exercises that are suitable for you.
3. Avoid harmful things completely
Smoking and drinking alcohol should be completely avoided during pregnancy . These things not only increase the risk of preeclampsia, but also directly harm the baby's development.
What kind of treatment does the doctor perform?
The only and best "cure" for preeclampsia is to deliver the baby and placenta . But that is done taking into account the baby's development and your condition.
- If there is still time: If you are still due and your condition is not too serious, your doctor will prescribe bed rest , possibly hospitalization. They will also give you medication to control your blood pressure . All of this is to give the baby some more time to grow in the womb.
- If you are close to giving birth: If you are close to your due date, or if your condition or that of your baby is at risk, your doctor may decide to artificially induce labor and deliver your baby .
All of these decisions are made to ensure the safety of both you and your baby. Therefore, it is very important to follow the doctor's instructions exactly.
Take-Home Message
- Preeclampsia is a serious condition associated with high blood pressure that can occur during pregnancy.
- It is mandatory to attend the maternity clinic on the scheduled date to detect this condition early.
- Always be on the lookout for warning signs such as swelling of the face and hands, severe headaches that don't go away, vision changes, and pain in the upper right side of the abdomen.
- If you notice such a symptom, do not panic and immediately inform your doctor or family health worker .
- The treatment regimen is determined by your and your baby's health condition. Therefore, trust and follow your doctor's instructions completely.
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