Introduction
Many conditions can occur during pregnancy. Among these, one of the severe conditions is preeclampsia, affecting both the mother and the child. Preeclampsia is mainly associated with the high blood pressure of the mother. This topic describes preeclampsia, its complications, and the use of magnesium to overcome the effect of preeclampsia.
What Is Preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a severe medical condition that can develop during pregnancy. Pregnant women with high blood pressure have a high chance of getting preeclampsia. It usually starts at 20 weeks of pregnancy. The patient suffering from preeclampsia can have proteins in urine, swelling, headaches, and high blood pressure. It also disturbs the other organs to work less appropriately. In this condition, high blood pressure pushes against the walls of the arteries, and arteries are the blood vessels that carry the blood away from the heart to other parts of the body. All these cause stress in the heart and problems during pregnancy.
What Are the Symptoms Related to Preeclampsia?
Symptoms related to preeclampsia are:
-
High Blood Pressure - It is the most critical sign of preeclampsia. When the blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) or more is considered a significant sign.
-
Protein in urine.
-
The platelet count present in the blood is low.
-
The amount of urine is low.
-
Blurry visions with sensitivity to light.
-
Pain in the abdomen.
-
Vomiting or nausea.
-
Abnormal liver function levels.
-
Troublesome breathing.
-
Rapid weight gain.
-
Swelling of face and hands.
How Does Preeclampsia Occur in the Pregnancy Stage?
Within the early stages of pregnancy, the mother's body forms new blood vessels, which are formed between the placenta and uterine walls. As these new blood vessels are abnormal, the blood flow to the placenta gets limited, causing abnormality in pregnancy and an increase in the blood pressure of the pregnant women. Sometimes, these new blood vessels' development is not normal, possibly due to incomplete blood flow to the uterus, damaged blood vessels, or a genetic issue with immune system disorders.
What Are the Complications of Preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia requires medical attention if detected. It is not an abnormal condition that can be left untreated because it can lead to further complications. Some of the complications related to preeclampsia are:
-
The slow growth of the baby in the mother's womb is because of a lack of oxygen in the placenta.
-
Low Birth Weight - Low birth weight of the baby or preterm baby is also very common in preeclampsia. These babies are provided with neonatal intensive care in the neonatal intensive care unit.
-
Placental Abruption - It mainly occurs due to the separation of the placenta from the uterus.
-
HELLP (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver Enzymes, and Low Platelets) Syndrome - HELLP syndrome occurs when there are many blood cells with an increase in liver enzymes and low levels of platelets. This will cause organ damage.
-
Eclampsia - It occurs when preeclampsia is with seizures. This condition can further lead to coma.
-
Stroke - Stroke occurs when damage to the brain occurs with an interrupted blood flow. It can lead to brain damage or sometimes death.
Patients who once suffered from preeclampsia have an increased chance of heart disease and blood vessel diseases. Affected women have a chance of developing preeclampsia again in their subsequent pregnancies.
What Is the Use of Magnesium Sulfate Therapy in Preeclampsia?
If the patient suffers from preeclampsia, delivering the baby as soon as possible should be considered. But in the case of preeclampsia, the baby's delivery is required early in pregnancy, leading to the preterm birth of the baby. If the patient waits for the full-term birth, the patient's chances of developing complications increase.
If the baby is immature, the doctor tries to wait to limit the effects of further risks. On observing the risks and severity of the case, the doctor calls the patient on weekly visits with medication to control blood pressure, and babies lung developing medication injections are also delivered before due to the preterm birth planned by the doctor.
In very severe preeclampsia cases, the doctor has to watch the pregnant woman for seizures. So, here comes Magnesium sulfate therapy, which works as an antiseizure medicine safe for pregnancy. It is usually administered intravenously by injecting it into the veins. Magnesium also provides time for the development of the baby's lungs. It also increases the delivery time. Magnesium sulfate therapy is beneficial for preeclampsia patients and is usually administered by a doctor to control the preeclampsia effects and complications.
Magnesium sulfate is given in two doses. One is provided before delivery to prolong the time of development of the baby's lungs. And the second shot is administered 24 hours after the baby's delivery. But the injections are given under the close supervision of a doctor before and after administering the injection.
Can Magnesium Sulfate Cause Toxicity?
Magnesium sulfate injections are very effective for pregnant women with severe preeclampsia but can cause magnesium toxicity on over usage. So, the medicine should be taken under the doctor's close supervision, and the patient should be observed after the treatment so that no severe effects cause harm to the mother or baby.
What Are the Side Effects of Magnesium Sulfate?
Some of the side effects that appear due to magnesium toxicity are:
-
Nausea.
-
Vomiting.
-
Lowering blood pressure.
-
Irregular heart rate.
-
Troublesome breathing.
-
Calcium deficiency.
-
Heart attack.
-
Kidney damage.
-
Coma.
The baby in the mother's womb also faces side effects of magnesium toxicity. Some of them are:
-
Low muscular tone.
-
Lower bone density.
-
Easier bone fractures.
-
Easily get injured.
-
Even death can occur.
Conclusion:
Preeclampsia is a severe condition that occurs due to high blood pressure faced by the mother and can harm the mother and the baby. Pregnant women who suffer from preeclampsia need close observation by their doctor. The use of Magnesium sulfate in severe cases of preeclampsia has been very effective in overcoming the complications that are occurring in the mother. Magnesium sulfate therapy is delivered in two doses. The first dose is given before delivery, and the second dose is given after 24 hours.
