How to test for preeclampsia

Preeclampsia can be said to be a disease that is very unfamiliar to everyone. In fact, pregnant mothers should be familiar with preeclampsia. Because if you suffer from preeclampsia, it is very likely to take the life of the pregnant mother. Therefore, many people will undergo relevant tests for preeclampsia during their prenatal check-ups to determine whether they have this disease. So, how do you check for preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia, formerly known as pregnancy toxemia, is listed as one of the three major causes of maternal death in obstetrics, along with bleeding and infection. In addition, preeclampsia can also affect the growth and development of the fetus, and may even cause fetal stillbirth. Therefore, it is very important for obstetric medical staff and expectant mothers to have a basic understanding of preeclampsia.

Testing for preeclampsia

Manual measurement method: Press your thumb on the tibia of the calf. When pressed down, the skin will obviously sink and will not recover quickly, indicating edema. If expectant mothers want to prevent edema, they can wear elastic stockings, raise their feet when sleeping, and lie on their left side.

Laboratory tests: blood pressure, proteinuria, and urine sugar tests. If the blood pressure is high and proteinuria, generalized edema, etc. occur, expectant mothers must pay more attention to avoid the risk of preeclampsia. In addition, electrocardiogram and liver and gallbladder B-ultrasound examinations should be performed, and blood sugar and bile acid should be rechecked according to the condition of the pregnant woman.

What are the symptoms and signs of preeclampsia? What are the main ones?

High blood pressure

Patients with preeclampsia will experience vasoconstriction in their arteries, which will cause their blood pressure to rise. If a pregnant woman's blood pressure continues to rise to 140/90 Hg, she should be suspected of having preeclampsia.

Weight gain: Sudden and rapid weight gain in a pregnant woman is often a warning sign that preeclampsia is about to develop. Generally speaking, you gain about one pound per week during pregnancy. If a woman gains more than 2 pounds per week or more than 6 pounds per week, she should be suspected of developing preeclampsia.

protein

The protein production in patients with preeclampsia often follows high blood pressure and excessive weight gain. The level of protein also increases with the severity of preeclampsia.

Headache

Headaches are less common in mild pre-eclampsia, but occur more frequently in severe pre-eclampsia. Generally speaking, this type of headache is mostly in the frontal area and cannot be relieved by ordinary analgesics. Eclampsia is often preceded by severe headaches.

Upper abdominal pain

Upper abdominal pain is one of the symptoms of severe pre-eclampsia and indicates that the patient is about to develop eclampsia.

Blurred vision

Blurred vision is also a symptom of severe pre-eclampsia and also indicates that the patient is likely to develop eclampsia.

In summary, preeclampsia often has no symptoms in the early stages, and it is difficult for the mother herself to be aware of its early signs (increased blood pressure and proteinuria). If symptoms such as headache, blurred vision or upper abdominal pain appear, it is often a serious preeclampsia and there is a risk of eclampsia. Therefore, timely and regular prenatal examinations are very important to detect the occurrence of preeclampsia early.