How does preeclampsia affect pregnancy?
Preeclampsia is often silent, showing up unexpectedly during a routine blood pressure check and urine test. In cases like this, if the baby is near term (after 36 weeks) the baby is induced, delivered and the mother watched and sent home as usual. If preeclampsia occurs earlier in the pregnancy, especially for a mother expecting multiple births, its impact is more profound. Time off work, bed rest, medication and even hospitalization may be prescribed to keep the blood pressure under control. It is in the best interest of the babies to be kept in-utero as long as possible. Unfortunately, the only “cure” for the disease is delivery of the baby. Sometimes it is in the best interest of the mother to delivery the baby before term. Medical personnel may prescribe anti-hypertensive medications, such as beta-blockers, and in rare cases, lasix or diuretics (water pills), though that is generally not advised. If the blood pressure cannot be managed with medication and treatment and the mother’s
