When a mother is pregnant, one thing that the mother should know for the safety of both herself and the baby in the womb is to take care of herself to stay away from ‘preeclampsia’.
What is preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia refers to a complication during pregnancy, mostly occurring after 20 weeks of gestation or during the third trimester. The mother will have abnormally high blood pressure, which subsequently affects various organs causing them to function abnormally.
In cases where the mother has ‘severe preeclampsia’ (Preeclampsia with severe features), the danger from complications will be more severe. It may cause abnormal bleeding, liver and kidney dysfunction, seizures, and if not treated promptly, it can lead to the death of both the mother and the baby in the womb.
Self-care to prevent preeclampsia
- Register for prenatal care as soon as you know you are pregnant and attend regular check-ups as scheduled by the doctor.
- Avoid salty, fatty, and strongly flavored foods.
- Eat a balanced diet with all 5 food groups.
- Exercise regularly and get enough rest, 6-8 hours per day.
- Drink 6-8 glasses of water daily.
- Count the baby’s movements and keep a record to monitor for abnormalities, which is also useful information for the doctor’s diagnosis.
- Inform your doctor about any underlying diseases and risk history that may cause preeclampsia, including first pregnancy over 40 years old.
- Undergoing IVF or ICSI procedures.
- Having a history of hypertension, diabetes, lupus, blood clotting disorders, or thyroid disease.
- Having a multiple pregnancy.
- Having had preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy.
- Pre-pregnancy weight with BMI > 25 kg/m2.
What abnormal symptoms require an urgent visit to the doctor before the scheduled appointment?
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Double vision
- Decreased fetal movement
- Swelling of the face, hands, ankles, and feet
- Chest tightness or pain in the epigastric area
