Pre-eclampsia facts for kids

Pre-eclampsia (often called PE) is a health problem that can happen during pregnancy. It starts when a pregnant person develops high blood pressure and has a lot of protein in their urine. This condition usually begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

In serious cases, pre-eclampsia can cause other issues. These might include red blood cells breaking down, a low number of blood platelets, problems with the liver or kidneys, swelling, trouble breathing because of fluid in the lungs, or even vision changes.

If pre-eclampsia is not treated, it can lead to seizures.

What is Pre-eclampsia?

Pre-eclampsia is a specific condition that affects pregnant people. It is diagnosed when two main things happen after the 20th week of pregnancy:

• The pregnant person develops high blood pressure.
• They have a lot of protein in their urine.

Doctors watch for these signs carefully during pregnancy check-ups.

Why is it Important?

Pre-eclampsia can be serious for both the pregnant person and the baby. It can affect how well the placenta works. The placenta is the organ that gives the baby food and oxygen. If the placenta doesn't work well, the baby might not grow as much as it should.

Doctors need to manage pre-eclampsia to keep both the pregnant person and the baby healthy.

Signs and Symptoms

Sometimes, people with pre-eclampsia might not feel sick at first. This is why regular check-ups are so important. However, some common signs and symptoms can include:

• High blood pressure: This is the main sign, but you usually can't feel it.
• Protein in urine: This is found with a special test.
• Swelling: Especially in the face, hands, or feet. While some swelling is normal in pregnancy, sudden or severe swelling can be a sign of pre-eclampsia.
• Headaches: New or very bad headaches that don't go away.
• Vision changes: Such as blurry vision, seeing spots, or temporary loss of vision.
• Pain in the upper belly: Usually on the right side, under the ribs.
• Shortness of breath: Feeling like you can't get enough air.

If any of these symptoms appear, it's important to tell a doctor or nurse right away.

Severe Pre-eclampsia

In more serious cases, pre-eclampsia can lead to other problems. These include:

• Blood problems: Like red blood cells breaking down or a very low number of platelets, which help blood clot.
• Organ damage: The liver or kidneys might not work as well as they should.
• Fluid in the lungs: This can make breathing very difficult.
• Seizures: If pre-eclampsia becomes very severe and is not treated, it can lead to seizures. This is called Eclampsia.

Causes and Risk Factors

The exact cause of pre-eclampsia is not fully known. Scientists believe it might be related to how the placenta forms and attaches to the uterus. It's thought that the blood vessels in the placenta don't develop correctly.

Some things can increase the chance of someone getting pre-eclampsia. These are called risk factors:

• Being pregnant for the first time.
• Having pre-eclampsia in a past pregnancy.
• Being pregnant with more than one baby (like twins or triplets).
• Having certain health conditions before pregnancy, such as diabetes, kidney disease, or lupus.
• Being over 40 years old.
• Having a family history of pre-eclampsia.

It's important to remember that having a risk factor doesn't mean someone will definitely get pre-eclampsia. Many people with risk factors have healthy pregnancies.

Treatment and Management

The main way to treat pre-eclampsia is to deliver the baby. Once the baby is born and the placenta is delivered, the symptoms of pre-eclampsia usually go away.

However, if pre-eclampsia happens early in pregnancy, doctors try to manage it so the pregnancy can continue safely for as long as possible. This might involve:

• Close monitoring: Regular check-ups to measure blood pressure, check urine for protein, and monitor the baby's health.
• Medication: Doctors might give medicines to help lower blood pressure.
• Rest: Sometimes, doctors recommend rest to help manage symptoms.
• Hospital stay: In severe cases, a pregnant person might need to stay in the hospital for close monitoring and treatment.

Doctors will decide the best plan based on how severe the pre-eclampsia is and how far along the pregnancy is. The goal is always to protect both the pregnant person and the baby.

See also

• In Spanish: Preeclampsia para niños