Watch Out for This Medical Emergency Condition During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a blissful period, though it is accompanied by ups and downs. Apart from dealing with the physical changes, discomfort, and emotional turmoil that can come with pregnancy, you should also be aware of life-threatening complications like preeclampsia, and what you can do to avoid them.

One major life-threatening complication to be aware of during pregnancy is called preeclampsia. It is crucial to learn about what this condition entails to have a smooth sailing experience until you deliver your bundle of joy.

What Is Preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia is a type of high blood pressure that develops in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy (above 140 mmHg for systolic pressure and 90 mmHg for diastolic pressure). Are you unsure about what these terms mean? Click on this link to understand what it means.

However, preeclampsia is different from gestational hypertension as it is also accompanied by the presence of protein in the urine and signs of organ injury or damage.

Why Does It Occur?

Preeclampsia occurs due to the abnormal development of the blood vessels in the placenta. What happens is that the cells that line the embryo, called the trophoblasts, are responsible for crossing the endometrium and myometrium to get to the spiral arteries. These spiral arteries supply oxygenated blood and nutrients to the placenta. However, in preeclampsia, this doesn’t happen. So, imagine what happens when the placenta lacks these essential nutrients!

Subsequently, the placenta then releases factors that can damage the endothelial cells that line the blood vessels. The damage to these epithelial cells is responsible for the symptoms associated with this condition. These include such as leaking of protein in the urine, swelling of various parts of the body, etc.

What Are the Symptoms?

The symptoms of preeclampsia include:

• Presence of protein in urine
• Elevated liver enzymes (detected through tests)
• Edema, or swelling of the face, brain tissues, and lungs
• Persistent headaches
• Shortness of breath
• Hyperreflexia

Why Is Preeclampsia a Medical Emergency?

Preeclampsia is a medical emergency because if it is not managed, it can lead to eclampsia, which is a seizure in pregnancy. Also, the complete disarray of the mother’s vascular system can cause serious consequences. These include fluid leakage into the brain tissues, seizures, brain damage, and even death. Additionally, preeclampsia can lead to poor fetal development, prematurity, blood clotting disorders, and overall organ damage.

How to Prevent Preeclampsia

It might not always be easy to avoid preeclampsia, but some steps can help reduce the risk of developing this condition. These include;

• Manage your blood pressure: You can do this in various ways, such as regularly exercising, reducing stress, eating healthily, and getting adequate sleep.
• Take prenatal vitamins. Certain essential nutrients are required to ensure the optimal health of the mother and fetus. These include omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, calcium, and folic acid. These help to significantly reduce the risk of developing preeclampsia and other pregnancy-related complications. NATURE’S FIELD PREGMUM PLUS OMEGA-3 contains all the critical nutrients pregnant women need to achieve a healthy and successful delivery.
• Care for your kidneys: Kidney disease is a risk factor for preeclampsia and also for the presence of protein in urine. Therefore, make efforts to take care of your kidneys by avoiding alcohol and smoking and practicing healthy nutrition at all times.

On this World Preeclampsia Day, we’ve given you the pertinent details on this severe complication in pregnancy and why measures should be made to curtail it. Pregnancy is a time when you need to be the healthiest version of yourself, and you can do that by including NATURE’S FIELD PREGMUM PLUS OMEGA-3 into your pregnancy care routine.