Risk of recurrence of preeclampsia in pregnancies

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Thi Hong On - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital.

Pre-eclampsia is one of the five leading causes of death in pregnancy for both mother and baby in the world. More worryingly, women who had preeclampsia in their first pregnancy are at a higher risk of recurrence in subsequent pregnancies.

Preeclampsia is a condition in which gestational hypertension from the 20th week onwards with 3 main symptoms are hypertension, proteinuria and edema. This is the stage before eclampsia.

Among the risk factors for preeclampsia is age. Eclampsia is a disease that occurs due to age, because it usually occurs in women during their teenage years or between the ages of 30 and 40. Therefore, preeclampsia tends to occur during a woman's first pregnancy, especially in women who become pregnant at a very young age.
Even so, be aware that women who do not have preeclampsia in their first pregnancy can develop preeclampsia in subsequent pregnancies. For example, Hellp's Syndrome - a syndrome that causes hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and thrombocytopenia, due to progressive severe preeclampsia - is more common in later pregnancies than in the first.

Predisposing factors leading to pre-eclampsia include:
Multiple pregnancy, polyhydramnios, Childbirth under 18 years old or over 30 years old Maternal smoking habit Pregnancy in cold season, high humidity Pregnancy in women with diabetes, chronic hypertension, obesity Have a history of pre-eclampsia, have had eclampsia in a previous pregnancy.

Women who have had preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy have a higher risk of developing preeclampsia in a subsequent pregnancy. Therefore, pregnant women who are dependent on this case need to be careful during the next pregnancy, have regular antenatal check-ups and regularly discuss with their doctor about their health status, what happens in the body, and feel abnormal in order to have an early pregnancy. intervention if unfortunately preeclampsia returns.

The increase in blood pressure and protein in the urine of women with preeclampsia will decrease and gradually return to normal after delivery. Recovery time will vary from person to person, some days, some weeks, but never more than 12 weeks. In addition, pregnant women may have to use more blood pressure medication after discharge as prescribed by the doctor.
If you have persistent headache, blurred vision, abdominal pain above the navel or to the right, tightness in the chest, edema (water retention) in the hands, face or eyelids, see an obstetrician if in 6 weeks postpartum or cardiologist if within 12 weeks postpartum.
Many studies also show that women with preeclampsia have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure or heart disease later in life. Therefore, it is necessary to have periodic health checks and follow a healthy and appropriate lifestyle, including: limiting salty foods, eating lots of green vegetables, exercising regularly, not smoking, staying away from stimulants, limiting stress,...
Vinmec International General Hospital offers a Package Maternity Care Program for pregnant women right from the first months of pregnancy with full prenatal check-ups, 3D ultrasound , 4D period and routine tests to ensure that the mother is always healthy and the fetus is developing comprehensively.
Pregnant women will be consulted and checked for health under the close supervision of experienced and specialized Obstetricians, helping mothers have more knowledge to protect their health during pregnancy as well as reduce reduce complications for mother and child.