What is preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia occurs in about 5 percent to 10 percent of pregnancies. The condition is marked by high blood pressure and protein in the urine. It usually starts after the 20th week of pregnancy. Preeclampsia can harm both mom and baby. If left untreated, it can lead to a more dangerous condition called eclampsia.
Though it may affect timing of the delivery, it may not affect how the baby is delivered. Many women with preeclampsia are able to have a normal vaginal delivery. Sometimes, a cesarean (C-section) is needed. Your doctor will recommend the delivery method that is best suited for you and your baby.
Why would my baby need to be delivered early?
A woman with preeclampsia often needs to deliver her baby early. Labor may be induced if preeclampsia-related complications affect the health of the mother or unborn baby. If you have a severe form, your doctor may induce labor as early as 32 weeks or before. Doctors advise that all women with preeclampsia be delivered at least by week 40 of pregnancy.Reasons to induce labor earlier include:
- Problems with the mother's liver or kidneys
- Placenta abruption (when the placenta separates from the uterus)
- Central nervous system symptoms, such as headaches or vision problems
- Severe abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting
- Fetal growth restriction (when the baby stops growing or grows too slowly)
- Too little amniotic fluid (oligohydramnios )
- Test results show there is a problem with the baby
- How is labor induced?
- To induce labor, the mother is given a medication that brings on labor. Doctors often prescribe the hormone oxytocin (Pitocin), which stimulates the uterus to start contractions. It is given through the vein in your arm (intravenously, or IV).
When would I need a C-section?
For a woman with preeclampsia, a vaginal birth is preferred to a C-section. This is because recovery from a C-section puts added stress on the mother's body.There are times, though, when a C-section is best for the health of mom and baby. A C-section may be advised if symptoms become more severe, or if the health of the mother or fetus is at risk.
Preventing complications during labor
Your doctor will closely monitor you and your baby during labor and delivery. Your blood pressure will be checked throughout this process. If your blood pressure gets too high, your doctor will give you medication to lower it through an IV.You may also be given magnesium sulfate through an IV during and for the few days after delivery. This will help prevent seizures associated with preeclampsia.
Related Article:
- High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy: How Is Preeclampsia Diagnosed?
- What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Preeclampsia?
- How Preeclampsia In The Mother Can Affect Her Baby
SOURCES:
- March of Dimes. High blood pressure during pregnancy.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. High blood pressure during pregnancy.
- Weismiller DG. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. In: Rakel RE, Bope ET, eds. Rakel: Conn's Current Therapy 2008, 60th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders-Elsevier; 2008.
- American Academy of Family Physicians. Preeclampsia.
- Alanis MC, Robinson CJ, Hulsey TC, Ebeling M, Johnson DD. Early-onset severe preeclampsia: induction of labor vs elective cesarean delivery and neonatal outcomes. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.2008;199(3):1-6.
- Williams DE, Pridjian G. Obstetrics. In: Rakel RE. Rakel: Textbook of Family Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2007.