by Jason Young

Created on: June 08, 2007   Last Updated: September 28, 2011

One of the most common and dangerous complications of pregnancy is preeclampsia. However, with early and ongoing prenatal care and education it can be detected and treated, protecting both mother and baby. Preeclampsia is also known as toxemia or pregnancy-induced hypertension. It has the potential to be fatal, accounting for an estimated 76,000 annual mother and infant deaths worldwide. This condition will usually manifest after the 20th week of pregnancy and symptoms will include combinations of:

Swelling of the hands, feet and face
Excessive or rapid weight gain (more than 2 lbs/week)
Headaches
Nausea
Agitation
Abdominal pain
Decreased urination
Vision changes
High blood pressure

While several of these symptoms are common to pregnancy and are not dangerous by themselves, combinations of these symptoms can alert an expectant mother or her physician to the need for intervention. A pregnant woman who displays any one of these signs and seizures may be experiencing eclampsia and this development is an emergency. When suspicious of preeclampsia, a physician may check liver, kidney and vascular function using blood work and urinalysis.

Mothers who develop preeclampsia will commonly have labor induced if the fetus has developed sufficiently (usually after 36 weeks). If there is concern for the viability of the baby a doctor might prescribe bed-rest, dietary changes or even hospitalization for close monitoring until the child can safely be delivered. One of the dietary changes doctors may recommend is to reduce the salt intake of the mother. There is some disagreement in the medical community as to whether eliminating or significantly reducing salt/sodium intake helps to reduce hypertension or makes it worse in pregnant women. Most doctors agree, however, that all pregnant women should eat so that sufficient nutrients are available to her and her baby.

At this time, the cause of preeclampsia is unknown. Some of the prevailing theories are that it is caused by diet, genetics, or autoimmune disease. Factors that may increase the risk of a woman developing preeclampsia include:

Advanced maternal age
First time pregnancy
African-American heritage
Past history of diabetes
Past history of kidney disease
Past history of hypertension
Multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets, etc)

Once the baby is delivered there are generally little remaining effects of this condition. It's uncommon for women to develop chronic hypertension after resolution of an episode of preeclampsia. About 33% of women will experience preeclampsia in subsequent pregnancies.

Every pregnant woman's physician, midwife, or other care provider should know how to recognize and respond to preeclampsia. In addition, it is important for pregnant women to be educated as to the symptoms, risks and treatment options for this condition which currently affects 8% of pregnancies in the U.S. today. While doctors search for more answers, the most effective way to avoid the potentially catastrophic effects of this condition include education, early identification of warning signs and close monitoring of both mother and child.

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