Pregnancy toxemia, also known as preeclampsia, is a disorder that can occur during pregnancy or even after childbirth. This condition affects approximately 5-8% of pregnancies. If a woman develops preeclampsia, she may experience high blood pressure and the presence of protein in her urine. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and in some cases, it can be life-threatening.
This pregnancy toxemia typically occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy and lasts until 6 weeks postpartum. Regular prenatal care and check-ups can help identify the symptoms of this condition early on. Healthcare providers will monitor and treat the condition to reduce severity and prevent potential risks.ขึ้น
What causes pregnancy toxemia?
The exact cause is not known, but it is found that pregnancy toxemia often occurs in mothers during their first pregnancy, especially those carrying multiple fetuses or those with certain pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney disease.
Who is at risk of developing pregnancy toxemia?
- Women in their first pregnancy or those with a new partner
- Pregnant women under 18 years old or over 35 years old
- A long gap between pregnancies, more than 10 years
What should you do when experiencing symptoms of pregnancy toxemia?
- Get plenty of rest and regularly monitor blood pressure as advised by your healthcare provider.
- Watch out for abnormal symptoms such as headaches, blurred vision, or severe edema.
- Keep all scheduled appointments with your healthcare provider, who may increase the frequency of check-ups compared to a normal pregnancy.
- In severe cases, the healthcare provider may recommend hospitalization, prescribe anti-seizure medications, and blood pressure-lowering medications.
- In some cases with severe symptoms, the healthcare provider may advise terminating the pregnancy.
What are the symptoms of pregnancy toxemia that require immediate medical attention?
- Blurred vision
- Headaches
- Severe edema
- High blood pressure
- Decreased fetal movement
- Vaginal bleeding
- Prolonged continuous abdominal pain
- Rapid weight gain
Pregnancy toxemia can lead to complications for both the mother and the baby:
- The mother may be at risk of mortality, often due to bleeding in the brain caused by a ruptured blood vessel. Seizures and temporary vision loss may also occur.
- The baby may experience slow growth during pregnancy, and if the mother has low amniotic fluid levels, the baby may be compressed by the weight of the mother, leading to abnormal development or premature birth.
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