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Pregnancy and Childbirth: The answers

 

Risk of chronic hypertension following pre-eclampsia

For the majority of women who suffer from pre-eclampsia in one pregnancy (usually the first), the risk of developing chronic hypertension later on in life is similar to that of the general population. That simply means, it is not increased.

 

The story is different for those who experience recurrent pre-eclampsia in each pregnancy. Here, as mentioned before, the risk of chronic hypertension later on in life is significantly above average.

 

Recurrent pre-eclampsia is therefore regarded as a sign of latent hypertension.

 

Preventing pre-eclampsia

There is nothing known that an individual can do or take to prevent pre-eclampsia. Nor does medical science, as it stands now, offer any measures to stop pre-eclampsia from developing.

 

 

Factors in pregnancy  that increase the risk of pre­-eclampsia developing

There are factors that make pre-eclampsia more likely to develop.  Most of these are out of the mother's control. These are associated factors. They are not causes of the condition. They include:

Ø Pre-existing hypertension

Ø Multiple pregnancy

Ø Chronic renal disease

Ø Molar pregnancy

There is no evidence that good diabetes control reduces the risk of pre-eclampsia.

 

Drug abuse and pre-eclampsia

Drug abuse, especially with cocaine has been associated with hypertension and increased risk of placental abruption and fetal loss. It has not been associated with pre-eclampsia.

 

On the other hand, those who abuse heroin are not advised to withdraw during pregnancy. Instead, a switch to a better­ controlled agent in the form of methadone is advised. This is because heroin withdrawal can cause a significant rise in blood pressure. Neither use nor withdrawal is associated with pre-eclampsia.

 

Pre-eclampsia and fetal malformations

Pre-eclampsia does not cause nor is it associated with fetal abnormalities.

Use of the oral contraceptive pill after pre-eclampsia

It is perfectly safe to use the combined pill or the progestogen only pill (mini-pill) following a pregnancy complicated by pre-eclampsia.

 

Once the blood pressure has settled, which may be within two or three weeks of delivery (but occasionally longer) and in the absence of contraindications to its use, the pill can be safely taken.

 

HELLP Syndrome: next Page