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The condition Pre-Eclampsia effects nearly 10% of all pregnancies, the warning signs of the condition are High Blood Pressure, Generalised Odema (but especially on the wrists, legs, ankles, feet and face), and proteinuria (protein in the urine).
Historically pre-eclampsia was called toxemia, the women most at risk of developing the condition are:-
Women who are under 20 years old, with a first pregnancy
Women who are over 35 old, with a first pregnancy
Had hypertension in a previous pregnancy, other then the first
Are having a multiple pregnancy (twins, triplets) etc.
The signs that you may have pre-eclampsia are:-
High Blood Pressure - usually if you have blood pressure of 140/90 from week 20 onwards you should see your GP and ask him to check it out, remember that if you leave the condition untreat then it can develop into Eclampsia which is very dangerous to both mother and baby(ies).
Odema or severe swelling - quick weight gain usually occurs at the same time as the swelling, a women can over 2lbs a week on with this condition, on its own swelling is not an accurate sign of pre-eclampsia because most women get some swelling of the ankles and feet during the last few weeks of pregnancy.
Protein in the urine - this is the main sign that doctors use to determine pre-eclampsia. The condition causes damage to the kidneys which heals after the delivery of the baby(ies).
The only known cure for pre-eclampsia is the early delivery of the baby(ies), the sooner pre-eclampsia is diagnosed the more severe it is likely to become, so the doctors will try to get the women through as many months as they feel is safe before inducing labour or performing a cesarean section.
If you get the following dangerous signs of pre-eclampsia you must see a GP as soon as possible:-
Severe headaches together with spotting vision or flashing lights in your vision
Sudden increase in swelling over 2/3 days
Feeling sick, dizzyness, vomiting
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