A Serious Disorder Affecting One in Twelve Pregnancies

I think we all cried when Lady Sybil's Preeclampsia went undiagnosed on Downton Abbey

Preeclampsia and Pregnancy

Obstetric researchers have made much progress in the last decade to increase the safety of pregnancy and childbirth. But preeclampsia — a potentially life-threatening disorder — has continued to be a stubborn foe that affects almost 300,000 women annually here in the U.S. May is Preeclampsia Awareness Month, and communities nationwide are hosting Promise Walks for Preeclampsia to raise funds and educate the public.

We were thirsty for knowledge on this issue, so we turned to Laney Poye, Community Relations Director for the Preeclampsia Foundation.

1. What is Preeclampsia?
It is a rapidly progressive condition that women can get during pregnancy and in the post-partum period, marked by hypertension and accompanied by a high level of protein in the urine. If it progresses, the woman may develop seizures, and then it is called “eclampsia,” which is dangerous for both mother and baby. It most often occurs any time after 20 weeks gestation and up to six weeks postpartum.

2. Can it be cured?
Currently, the only “cure” to preeclampsia starts with delivery of the baby and placenta. When preeclampsia develops, the mother and her baby are monitored carefully. There are medications and treatments that may decrease the hypertension and prolong the pregnancy, which can increase the baby’s chances of health and survival. Once the course of preeclampsia has begun, it cannot be reversed and the health of the mother must be constantly weighed against the health of the baby. In some cases, the baby must be delivered immediately, regardless of gestational age, to save the mother’s and/or baby’s life.

3. How does it affect the baby?
Preeclampsia can be very dangerous for the unborn baby if the condition is not recognized early and monitored carefully. Worldwide, preeclampsia is responsible for up to 20% of the 13 million preterm births each year. Premature birth has a wide range of life-long consequences for children. Preeclampsia can also cause intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), which is when the baby is small for its gestational age due to reduced blood flow to the placenta. And sadly, infant loss is one of the most devastating possible consequences of preeclampsia. In the U.S., approximately 10,500 babies die from preeclampsia each year, and an estimated 500,000 worldwide. The disease can manifest in a very short time. You can have a normal prenatal appointment in the morning and lose your baby by the afternoon. We therefore encourage women to err on the side of caution and contact their doctor immediately if you experience signs of preeclampsia.

Photo courtesy of Nature.com

4. Is there a special diet that one can adopt to mitigate the chances?
Unfortunately, there is no diet or cure that can prevent preeclampsia, although of course it is important to follow a healthy pregnancy diet for the health of mom and baby, such as that recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Having a high body mass index (BMI) is one potential risk factor for developing preeclampsia, although there are also many women with normal or low BMIs that also develop the condition. A good prenatal diet full of vitamins, minerals and the basic food groups are important for any pregnancy, as is reducing consumption of processed foods, refined sugars and caffeine. Eliminating alcohol and any medication not prescribed by a physician is essential. Although there is no evidence that these healthy behaviors and choices impact preeclampsia, they do optimize your health for the best pregnancy possible.
Research also suggest there are probably several different variables that make a woman at risk for developing preeclampsia and that a preventive or curative therapy for one woman may not work for all women. Mother’s shouldn’t blame themselves or poor nutrition for IUGR, because IUGR is related to a failing placenta and not the mother’s diet. You could be eating all of the right things, but if the placenta is not capable of passing nutrients along, your baby’s growth will suffer.
Right now, early diagnosis through simple screening measures and good prenatal care can predict or delay many adverse maternal outcomes of preeclampsia. Prompt treatment saves lives!

5. Why isn’t preeclampsia more widely known?
Preeclampsia affects approximately 1 in every 12 pregnancies, but can range in severity. Approximately 25% of preeclampsia cases result in what is known as a severe outcome: organ failure, premature delivery, seizures, or loss of the mother and/or baby. Because it only occurs during pregnancy and the postpartum period, it was often considered “just” a pregnancy condition, but recent research has shown that women have an increased risk of developing heart disease 5-15 years after their pregnancy experience!

6. What is the Promise Walk?
The Promise Walk for Preeclampsia is the Preeclampsia Foundation’s signature fundraising and awareness event, which will be held from May onward throughout the summer in 45 locations nationwide. We walk to raise awareness, support research and education and help save lives by “Making Strides and Delivering Hope” to families impacted by preeclampsia. All proceeds go to support the mission of the Preeclampsia Foundation to provide support and education, catalyze research, raise awareness and improve healthcare practices to help save the lives of moms and babies.

7. How can one get involved if they are not in the Philadelphia area?
If you live in the Philadelphia area, join us on May 11, 2013 at Challenge Grove Park in Cherry Hill, New Jersey by registering at www.promisewalk.org/philadelphia. Registration is $20 for adult, $10 for children, and the event will be a fun, family-friendly event for all. If you don’t live in the Philly area, you can donate to our event or look for a walk in your own community by clicking “Register” at www.promisewalk.org.

8. What kind of research is being done on this disease/disorder?
There is currently quite a bit of research going on to look at the cause, potential interventions and earlier methods of diagnosis. The Preeclampsia Foundation helps fund research through our Vision Grant program and provides research study participant recruitment, but much more research is needed to help us make a difference in the lives of patients. Sadly, preeclampsia is still one of the lowest funded research areas, and we think the pregnant woman deserves a better deal. Policymakers, scientific investigators, health care professionals and patients need to work together to bring the information we already have to those who need it most and to drive greater awareness and resources to this devastating problem.

9. Is preeclampsia sometimes mistakenly diagnosed?
Preeclampsia is quite often misdiagnosed and can be particularly dangerous because many of the signs are silent, while some symptoms resemble “normal” effects of pregnancy on your body. Symptoms can include hypertension, protein in the urine, severe swelling (especially of the face, hands and feet), sudden weight gain, nausea or vomiting, stomach pain, lower back pain, headaches, changes in vision, shortness of breath or chest pain, and mental confusion or anxiety, but might also not present any symptoms whatsoever. Many women suffering from preeclampsia don’t feel sick, and may be surprised or become frustrated when they are admitted to the hospital or prescribed bed rest since they still feel well.

10. Where can we go for more info?
For more information about preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy or to find a Promise Walk location near you, visit www.preeclampsia.org. You can also find us on Facebook or Twitter.

BellyButtonBoutique.com is a proud sponsor of The Promise Walk in Philadelphia. If you would like to join our team, please let us know below!