Preeclampsia and Its Management

Through the Shenandoah Valley Family Practice Residency, doctors cultivate expertise in caring for patients across the lifespan and in multiple settings. The Shenandoah Valley Family Practice Residency offers a thorough grounding in family practice obstetrics, which includes the management of preeclampsia and other gestational conditions.

Preeclampsia is a serious medical condition that affects 3 to 7 percent of pregnancies. It typically develops after the 20th week of gestation and causes high blood pressure as well as protein in the urine, a symptom known as proteinuria.

Although it is often asymptomatic, the condition may cause sudden weight gain or abnormal swelling of the hands, eyes, or face. Severe cases can lead to persistent headache, decreased urination, trouble breathing, vision changes, and digestive symptoms.

Preeclampsia can only resolve after delivery of the baby. If the patient has reached 37 weeks gestation, the care team may induce labor or perform a Caesarean section. When a baby is not sufficiently developed to thrive outside the womb, however, the mother with preeclampsia will need to be under observation to ensure that the condition does not worsen.

Mild cases of pre-eclampsia may only require regular prenatal visits and may involve blood pressure medication. Women who are at risk of developing severe preeclampsia often are admitted to the hospital in order to prevent injury to the unborn baby or eclampsia, a seizure condition that can threaten the mother’s life. If preeclampsia symptoms become sufficiently severe, the medical team typically must deliver the baby.

Shenandoah Valley Family

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