Screening for Pre-eclampsia!

Is it important?

Preeclampsia which is high blood pressure in pregnancy affects about 6 to 10% of pregnancies. Preeclampsia poses risks to the mother which include seizures, stroke, liver damage , kidney damage and etc. It also causes risks to the unborn baby which include failure to grow, lack of oxygen and in worst of cases may lead to death.Screening for preeclampsia can be done at 11 to 14 weeks, 20 to 22 weeks and 36 to 37 weeks of pregnancy. Early screening will lead to commencement of effective medication to prevent the disease, while screening in late pregnancy will lead to closer surveillance of the pregnancy.