Awareness
Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it comes with health risks.
One of the most serious is pre-eclampsia – a pregnancy complication that can quickly become life-threatening for both mother and baby if left untreated.
What is pre-eclampsia?
Pre-eclampsia is a condition that affects some people in pregnancy (usually after 20 weeks) or soon after their baby is delivered. Signs of it are high blood pressure (hypertension) and protein in the urine (proteinuria). This serious condition can affect multiple organs, including the brain, kidneys and liver. Although the exact cause isn’t fully understood, the condition requires prompt medical attention.
“Pre-eclampsia is a serious medical emergency that requires immediate identification and intervention as it places both the mother and the unborn fetus at high risk of dying,” says Malan Snyman, Emergency Care Practitioner (ECP) at ER24 Pietermaritzburg.
While routine antenatal check-ups play an important role in identifying the condition, recognising the warning signs and knowing when to seek emergency medical care can make all the difference.
Recognising the warning signs of pre-eclampsia
One of the biggest challenges with pre-eclampsia is that some symptoms may initially be mistaken for normal pregnancy discomfort. However, certain warning signs should never be ignored, says Snyman. These include:
- Severe headaches
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Confusion or changes in consciousness
- Very high blood pressure
What can happen if pre-eclampsia is left untreated?
Without prompt diagnosis and treatment, pre-eclampsia can rapidly worsen to eclampsia. “It can cause seizures, bleeding in the brain, the placenta to separate from the womb too early, and kidney failure,” says Snyman. He adds that the condition can deteriorate within hours after symptoms first appear, making early recognition critical.
Know when to seek help
Although not every headache or episode of dizziness during pregnancy is caused by pre-eclampsia, persistent or severe symptoms should never be ignored. If you’re concerned about your health or notice warning signs such as severe headaches, blurred vision, confusion or a seizure, seek medical attention immediately or call emergency medical services.
There is currently no cure for pre-eclampsia in pregnancy. As giving birth resolves the symptoms in most cases, this is what will be recommended if you or the baby are at risk.
Remember, prompt recognition and treatment of pre-eclampsia can help protect the health of both mother and baby.