2023-06-05 12:09:00
If the blood pressure is too high and there is protein in the urine, this can be the first sign of a gestosis. Gestosis is the generic term for pregnancy-related diseases, the causes of which are largely unclear. Depending on the time of the first symptoms, gestosis can be divided into different forms.
forms of gestosis
prematurely born:
- Occur in the first trimester of pregnancy (second to fourth month of pregnancy)
- Example: Hyperemesis gravidarum characterized by excessive vomiting
late born:
- Affect the last trimester of pregnancy
- Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy such as gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, eclampsia and the HELLP syndrome
What is preeclampsia?
The disease is a combination of arterial hypertension and proteinuria, which can occur from the 20th week of pregnancy at the earliest. To protect both mother and child, this pregnancy poisoning must be closely monitored. Expectant mothers who are very overweight, over 40 years of age or with diabetes mellitus are particularly frequently affected.
Symptoms of Preeclampsia:
- high blood pressure
- protein in the urine
- Water retention in the tissues of the face, hands and feet
- In severe cases nausea and vomiting
- dizziness and visual disturbances
- confusion
- cramps
- Strong headache
Induction of labor, when necessary?
In severe preeclampsia, labor must be induced as soon as possible after diagnosis. A cesarean section is often performed due to the urgency. In mild cases of preeclampsia, it is not absolutely necessary to collect the baby before the due date, but the pregnant woman must be closely monitored.
treatment options
Mother and fetus should be closely monitored for mild preeclampsia before 36 weeks of pregnancy. The medical control is carried out using a contraction recorder (CTG), blood pressure measurement and blood and urine tests. Resting the mother-to-be or bed rest can also be prescribed. In severe cases, antihypertensive drugs are used. For blood pressure values of 150/100 mmHg and above, an inpatient stay in the hospital is usually unavoidable.
In the case of complications in the development of the child, it may also be necessary for the pregnant woman to take pregnancy-promoting medication. If there is an increased risk of early preeclampsia in pregnant women, a low dose of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) can be administered. If given as early as possible (before the 16th week of pregnancy), the risk of pre-eclampsia can be reduced by 60-80 percent. The blood thinning causes an improved development of the placenta.
Causes and risk factors
The exact causes are not known to this day. Experts suspect a circulatory disorder in the area of the uterus and placenta with involvement of the immune system. Late and multiple pregnancies are also at higher risk. If the pregnant woman has already had a miscarriage, the risk also increases. High blood pressure, obesity and metabolic and autoimmune diseases are said to increase the risk.
forecast
If preeclampsia occurs at the beginning of pregnancy, it is more often unfavorable for the mother-to-be and the unborn child. Without treatment, the disease often develops into eclampsia, a complication of preeclampsia: the seizures that occur are life-threatening for both the expectant mother and the unborn child. Severe courses increase the risk of cardiovascular and vascular diseases. The prognosis is significantly better in later weeks of pregnancy and with prompt treatment.
Diet in preeclampsia
There are some studies that show the positive effects of a Mediterranean diet during pregnancy. An appropriately balanced diet with plenty of fruit, vegetables, fish, olive oil and nuts can prevent possible complications from preeclampsia and delay premature birth. In this way, water retention and the associated increase in blood pressure can be favorably influenced.
A dietary supplement with vitamin B12, folic acid and vitamin D can, in addition to vitamin B6, prevent edema and deposits that also narrow the vessels. These micronutrients are contained, for example, in Folio, a preparation for the care of pregnant women from the 13th week of pregnancy and until the end of the breastfeeding period.
There is an overview for download here.
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