What is pregnancy toxemia or preeclampsia? Is it dangerous for my baby? Let's take stock together.

A mother-to-be is said to have pregnancy toxemia - or pre-eclampsia - when she suffers from hypertension (her blood pressure is equal to or greater than 14/9) and albumin (protein) is found in her urine. These signs are almost always accompanied by swelling of the face, hands or ankles, and occur from the  5th month of pregnancy . Even if these signs are not yet visible, pregnancy toxemia begins as soon as the placenta forms.

The cause: poor vascularization of the  placenta which secretes substances harmful to the blood vessels. This explains why during pregnancy toxemia, complications can appear in several organs (kidneys, lungs, liver, nervous system) of the mother.

In the baby, exchanges between the uterus and the placenta are reduced and growth retardation may occur.

Certain signs may alert the mother-to-be and appear gradually or more suddenly. Her face, hands or ankles are swollen, and she gains a lot of weight in a short time (for example, more than a kilo in a week).

Headaches may occur, as well as visual disturbances or increased sensitivity to light. Sometimes ringing in the ears is felt.

Blood test, urine test strip... How to diagnose pregnancy toxemia?

At the doctor's office, blood pressure exceeds 14/9 and when examining proteins in the urine , albumin is indicated by the appearance of one or two crosses on the strip. Given these signs, hospitalization is necessary for a complete assessment of the mother and baby.

Many factors are suggested to explain the appearance of pregnancy toxemia. Some are linked to a maternal illness such as obesity, diabetes or hypertension known before pregnancy. Others may be linked to pregnancy or age. In fact, toxemia is more common in mothers expecting twins and in those who are over 40 or under 18.

This disease is also more significant if it is a first pregnancy. Researchers are looking into early detection of certain substances responsible for hypertension in pregnant women.

Pregnancy toxemia disrupts exchanges between the mother and the fetus: the supply of nutrients and oxygen is reduced. This situation can lead to growth retardation (hypotrophy) and suffering in the baby . In the mother, the risks are first linked to the importance of hypertension. If it is moderate and treated quickly, the consequences are limited.

If the pathology is not detected early enough or responds poorly to treatment, it can become complicated in two different ways: eclampsia and retroplacental hematoma.

Eclampsia is the onset of convulsions, sometimes with impaired consciousness in the mother. Retroplacental hematoma is a hemorrhage between the placenta and the uterus. The bleeding causes a detachment of part of the placenta from the uterine wall. Pregnancy toxemia can also lead to kidney or liver dysfunction.

Hospitalization and complete rest are essential when pregnancy toxemia is detected. Blood pressure is monitored, urine is analyzed and a complete blood count is requested. There is no real treatment for toxemia other than taking antihypertensive medications to avoid complications.

At the fetal level, ultrasounds and Dopplers are used to assess the impact on the baby's growth. Fetal well-being is checked using monitoring. If the toxemia is severe or early, the mother is transferred to a level III maternity ward . The gynecologist may then decide to induce labor or perform a cesarean section. The toxemia disorders will disappear within a few days or weeks following the birth of the child.

A low-dose aspirin treatment will be prescribed by the doctor when there is a risk of recurrence of pre-eclampsia. It must be started before 16 weeks of amenorrhea and continued until 36 weeks of amenorrhea to be effective.

Pregnancy monitoring will be adapted according to the patient's risks.