women s health issues
Preeclampsia and Eclampsia
Symptoms of Preeclampsia and Eclampsia
Some women with preeclampsia have no symptoms. In others, preeclampsia causes fluids to accumulate ( Swelling ), particularly in the hands, fingers, neck, and face and around the eyes but also in the feet. Rings may no longer fit. Women may gain excess weight quickly, sometimes more than 5 pounds a week. Tiny red dots (petechiae) may appear on the skin, indicating bleeding in the skin. If severe, preeclampsia can damage organs, such as the brain, kidneys, lungs, heart, or liver. Symptoms of severe preeclampsia include the following: Severe headaches Distorted vision Confusion Overactive reflexes Pain in the upper right part of the abdomen (over the liver) Nausea and/or vomiting Difficulty breathing Decreased urination Very high blood pressure Stroke (rarely) If the HELLP syndrome develops, it may cause similar symptoms. The HELLP syndrome can develop before symptoms of preeclampsia appear. If a pregnant woman has a new headache that does not resolve or lessen withacetaminophenor her ring no longer fits her finger, she should call her doctor. If the ring of a pregnant woman no longer fits her finger, she should call her doctor. Preeclampsia may cause few noticeable symptoms for a while, then suddenly worsen and cause seizures (eclampsia). Babies may be small because the placenta malfunctions or because they are born prematurely. They may even die. Babies of women with preeclampsia are 4 or 5 times more likely to have problems soon after birth than babies of women who do not have this complication, depending on how early the baby is born and how much the baby weighs at delivery. Rarely, preeclampsia may cause the placenta to detach too soon (called Placental Abruption ). If preeclampsia and/or placental abruption occurs, the baby may be born too early, increasing the risk that the baby will have problems soon after birth. 