Mommy/Daddy BLOG* day4

Today I learned I have Preeclampsia

Pre-eclampsia is a medical condition in which hypertension arises in pregnancy (pregnancy-induced hypertension) in association with significant amounts of protein in the urine.

Pre-eclampsia refers to a set of symptoms rather than any causative factor, and there are many different causes for the condition. It appears likely that there are substances from the placenta that can cause endothelial dysfunction in the maternal blood vessels of susceptible women. While blood pressure elevation is the most visible sign of the disease, it involves generalized damage to the maternal endothelium, kidneys, and liver, with the release of vasoconstrictive factors being secondary to the original damage. If you develop high blood pressure after 20 weeks of pregnancy but don't have protein in your urine, you're considered to have gestational hypertension (also known as pregnancy-induced hypertension).If protein is later found in your urine, your diagnosis changes to preeclampsia. This happens in about a quarter of the cases of women who are initially diagnosed with gestational hypertension. Most likely, your blood pressure will return to a normal level after you have your baby. If your blood pressure is still high three months after you give birth, you'll be diagnosed with chronic hypertension. If this is the case, it doesn't mean that gestational hypertension caused you to develop chronic hypertension. Instead, you probably had chronic hypertension all along and just didn't know it.

Pre-eclampsia is dangerous for the mother but is equally problematic for the unborn baby. It can cause low birth weight which means that the unborn baby is slower to develop than normal.
The reason for this is that blood supply is restricted through the placenta which means that the baby does not receive enough nutrients and oxygen which are vital for its development.
The medical term for this is ‘intra-uterine growth restriction’.
Pre-eclampsia can be detected during a routine ante-natal appointment. If it is present then action will be taken which includes regular urine and blood pressure tests.

TIMELINE

Week 8

Gestational age: 7 weeks old. 50–56 days from last menstruation.

Embryonic age: Week nr 6. 5 weeks old. 36–42 days from fertilization.

• The embryo measures 13 mm (1/2 inch) in length.
• Lungs begin to form.
• The brain continues to develop.
• Arms and legs have lengthened with foot and hand areas distinguishable.
• The hands and feet have digits, but may still be webbed.
• The gonadal ridge begins to be perceptible.
• The lymphatic system begins to develop.
• Main development of external genitalia starts.

 Week 9

Gestational age: 8 weeks old. 57–63 days from last menstruation.

Embryonic age: Week nr 7. 6 weeks old. 43–49 days from fertilization.

• The embryo measures 18 mm (3/4 inch) in length.
• Fetal heart tone (the sound of the heart beat) can be heard using doppler.
• Nipples and hair follicles begin to form.
• Location of the elbows and toes are visible.
• Spontaneous limb movements may be detected by ultrasound.
• All essential organs have at least begun
• The vitelline duct normally closes

Weeks 10–12

Gestational age: 9–11 weeks old.

Embryonic age: Weeks nr 8–10. 7–9 weeks old.

• Embryo measures 30–80 mm (1.2–3.2 inches) in length.
• Ventral and dorsal pancreatic buds fuse during the 8th week
• Intestines rotate.
• Facial features continue to develop.
• The eyelids are more developed.
• The external features of the ear begin to take their final shape.
• The head comprises nearly half of the fetus' size.
• The face is well formed
• The eyelids close and will not reopen until about the 28th week.
• Tooth buds, which will form the baby teeth, appear.
• The limbs are long and thin.
• The fetus can make a fist with its fingers.
• Genitals appear well differentiated.
• Red blood cells are produced in the liver.

Weeks 13 to 16

Gestational age: 12–15 weeks old.

Embryonic age: Weeks nr 11–14. 10–13 weeks old.

• The fetus reaches a length of about 15 cm (6 inches).
• A fine hair called lanugo develops on the head.
• Fetal skin is almost transparent.
• More muscle tissue and bones have developed, and the bones become harder.
• The fetus makes active movements.
• Sucking motions are made with the mouth.
• Meconium is made in the intestinal tract.
• The liver and pancreas produce fluid secretions.
• From week 13, sex prediction by obstetric ultrasonography is almost 100% accurate.
• At week 15, main development of external genitalia is finished