Nearly one in every 10 of all maternal deaths in Africa are associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
Among the hypertensive disorders that complicate pregnancy, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia stand out as major causes of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity.
With pre-eclampsia, formerly called toxemia, you might have high blood pressure, high levels of protein in the urine that indicate kidney damage (proteinuria), or other signs of organ damage.
Eclampsia on the other hand is considered a complication of severe preeclampsia.
It includes seizures and/or unexplained coma during pregnancy or postpartum in a woman with signs or symptoms of preeclampsia and it typically occurs during or after the 20th week of gestation or in the postpartum period.
According to the World Health Organisation, the majority of deaths related to pre-eclampsia and eclampsia could be avoided if women received timely and effective care.
“All health care providers who care for pregnant women or women in labor must be competent to detect and manage pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, to prevent women with pre-eclampsia from developing eclampsia,” the WHO says.
Online medical site Mayo Clinic on the other hand warns that if left untreated, preeclampsia can lead to serious even fatal complications for both the mother and baby.
Some of the signs and symptoms of preeclampsia include severe headaches, changes in vision including temporary loss of vision, blurred vision or light sensitivity, and shortness of breath caused by fluid in the lungs
Others include pain in the upper belly, usually under the ribs on the right side, nausea, or vomiting.
“Weight gain and swelling (edema) are typical during healthy pregnancies. However, sudden weight gain or a sudden appearance of edema particularly in your face and hands may be a sign of preeclampsia,” experts say.
Experts recommend early delivery of the baby depending on how severe the preeclampsia is and how many weeks the pregnancy is.
“Before delivery, pre-eclampsia treatment includes careful monitoring and medications to lower blood pressure and manage complications,” it says.
Pre-eclampsia may develop after the delivery of a baby, a condition known as postpartum pre-eclampsia.
It is also advisable that you attend all your prenatal visits so that your healthcare provider can monitor your blood pressure.
Further, contact your provider immediately if you have severe headaches, blurred vision or other visual disturbances, severe belly pain, or severe shortness of breath.
This is due to the fact that these are common pregnancy complaints difficult to know if they are simply part of being pregnant or if they indicate a serious problem especially if it is your first pregnancy.
