Complications

Most women with preeclampsia deliver healthy babies. The more severe your preeclampsia and the earlier it occurs in your pregnancy, however, the greater the risks for you and your baby. Preeclampsia may require induced labor and delivery by Caesarian section. Complications of preeclampsia may include:

Lack of blood flow to the placenta. Preeclampsia affects the arteries carrying blood to the placenta. If the placenta doesn't get enough blood, your baby may receive less oxygen and fewer nutrients. This can lead to slow growth, low birth weight, preterm birth and breathing difficulties for your baby. Placental abruption. Preeclampsia increases your risk of placental abruption, in which the placenta separates from the inner wall of your uterus before delivery. Severe abruption can cause heavy bleeding, which can be life-threatening for both you and your baby. HELLP syndrome. HELLP which stands for hemolysis (the destruction of red blood cells), elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count syndrome can rapidly become life-threatening for both you and your baby. Symptoms of HELLP syndrome include nausea and vomiting, headache, and upper right abdominal pain. HELLP syndrome is particularly dangerous because it can occur before signs or symptoms of preeclampsia appear. Eclampsia. When preeclampsia isn't controlled, eclampsia which is essentially preeclampsia plus seizures can develop. Symptoms of eclampsia include upper right abdominal pain, severe headache, vision problems and change in mental status, such as decreased alertness. Eclampsia can permanently damage your vital organs, including your brain, liver and kidneys. Left untreated, eclampsia can cause coma, brain damage and death for both you and your baby. Cardiovascular disease. Having preeclampsia may increase your risk of future cardiovascular disease.

The dangers or eclampsia

Any woman with eclampsia is at risk of suffocation while the seizure is happening. Afterwards she may still be at risk, depending on the degree of brain damage that triggered the fit, and the severity of the underlying pre-eclampsia. Most women make a full recovery from eclampsia, but one in every 50 sufferers die and some are left with permanent disability. Unborn babies whose mothers are affected by eclampsia are at risk of acute asphyxia (suffocation). About one in every 14 of these babies die. It is now known that eclampsia occurring antenatally - particularly pre-term - tends to be more severe for both mothers and babies than eclampsia occurring during labour or after delivery (1).