Preeclampsia is a potentially serious disorder that affects about 10 percent of pregnant women, characterized by a hypertensive condition caused by pregnancy itself. It usually develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy and usually resolves within 48 hours after the baby is born, but if left unchecked, it can trigger premature delivery, cause complications in the fetus, and even death. .
But what many women do not know is that preeclampsia it can also occur after delivery, up to six weeks later, even without having signs during pregnancy. And although it no longer represents a risk for the baby, it does have a risk for the mother. Almost 80% of women who die from preeclampsia die during the postpartum period.
Unnoticed symptoms
The hours and days after delivery are key to detect any symptoms that could indicate an abnormality. The problem is that many times the symptoms are hardly identifiable They are confused with those experienced by a woman who has just become a mother.
Symptoms of preeclapsy include:
- Headache
- Abdominal pain
- Respiratory distress
- Burning sensation behind the breastbone
- Sickness
- Vomiting
- Mental confusion
- Feeling anxious
- Changes in vision (excessive sensitivity to light, blurred vision, sensation of intermittent flashes or auras).
If the recent mother suffers any of these symptoms after childbirth, it is necessary to see a doctor as soon as possible. It could be a sign that something is not going well in the postpartum.
