Risk and Management of Preeclampsia Crucial for Pregnant Women

Sponsored content by GBMC HealthCare Roughly 5-8% of pregnancies in the United States include a preeclampsia diagnosis. While most deliver healthy babies, it can be fatal for both mother and baby, if left undiagnosed. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the rate of preeclampsia is 60% higher for Black women, and in a country where the maternal mortality rate leaves much to be desired, this can be a compelling statistic for those pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant to take note of. Preeclampsia is high blood pressure specific to pregnancy and is associated with rapid progression of symptoms such as low platelet count, impairment of kidney function, high creatinine levels and high protein count in urine. For pregnant women, this can typically look like a sudden onset of: Headaches Spots in vision Unexplained swelling Nausea Vomiting Upper abdominal pain Bleeding “More women who are in their first pregnancies are associated with preeclampsia than second or third or fourth pregnancies,” Aneesha Varrey, MD, maternal fetal medicine specialist and high risk obstetrician at Perinatal Associates at GBMC Health Partners, said. “However, for those diagnosed prior to 32 weeks, the risk of recurrence is up to 30%. If you are...