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Symptoms usually include one or more of the following: orthopnea (difficulty breathing while lying flat), dyspnea (shortness of breath) on exertion, pitting edema (swelling), cough, frequent night-time urination, excessive weight gain during the last month of pregnancy (1-2+ kg/week; two to four or more pounds per week), palpitations (sensation of racing heart-rate, skipping beats, long pauses ...
However, because edema is a common occurrence in pregnancy, its utility as a distinguishing factor in pre-eclampsia is not high. Pitting edema (unusual swelling, particularly of the hands, feet, or face, notable by leaving an indentation when pressed on) can be significant, and should be reported to a health care provider.
During pregnancy, the enlarged abdomen and gravid uterus place additional strain on lumbar muscles and shift the pregnant woman's center of gravity. These postural compensations culminate in an increased load on both lumbar spinal musculature and the sacroiliac ligaments, manifesting as low back pain and/or pelvic girdle pain. [ 12 ]
The diagnostic criterion for pre-eclampsia is high blood pressure, occurring after 20 weeks gestation or during the second half of pregnancy. [1] Most often it occurs during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy and may occur before, during, or after delivery. [1] The seizures are of the tonic–clonic type and typically last about a minute. [1]
During pregnancy the plasma volume increases by 40-50% and the red blood cell volume increases only by 20–30%. [22] These changes occur mostly in the second trimester and prior to 32 weeks gestation. [24] Due to dilution, the net result is a decrease in hematocrit or hemoglobin, which are measures of red blood cell concentration.
Alcohol: Use during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. [67] Tobacco use: During pregnancy, causes twice the risk of premature rupture of membranes, placental abruption and placenta previa. [68] Also, it increases the odds of the baby being born prematurely by 30%. [69]
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Women who already have arthritic problems most often have to seek medical help for pain caused from over-reactive swelling. Edemas that occur during pregnancy are usually found in the lower part of the leg, usually from the calf down. Hydrops fetalis is a condition in a baby characterized by an accumulation of fluid in at least two body ...