Eclampsia is a dangerous condition that requires immediate medical treatment. Treatment depends on how severe your condition is and how mature your baby is. In some instances, delivery of the baby is necessary.
The most effective treatment for eclampsia is the delivery of the baby. However, your doctor will determine whether this is appropriate depending on how mature your baby is and how severe your eclampsia is.
If you have preeclampsia, a doctor may monitor you and provide treatment to help prevent eclampsia from developing.
Medication may reduce your blood pressure until your baby is mature enough to deliver. If you have severe preeclampsia or have already developed eclampsia, it may be necessary to deliver your baby early.
Eclampsia is a medical emergency. It typically requires immediate hospital treatment, and a team including obstetricians, anesthesiologists, and labor and delivery nurses will be involved.
Treatment may include the following:
Magnesium sulfate is the main drug doctors use to treat eclampsia and is preferred over other antiseizure medications. It’s a mineral that works as an anticonvulsant and can reduce the risk of death. It can also be given to women who are at risk of developing eclampsia.
It’s thought to work by acting on the central nervous system and blocking NMDA receptors. Magnesium sulfate may be able to halve the risk and the mortality rate of eclampsia. It can be
With this treatment, though, doctors need to be careful to avoid magnesium toxicity and monitor for any signs of this happening.
Blood pressure medication can bring blood pressure into a safer range and prevent complications.
Several drugs may be useful, such as:
- IV labetalol
- IV hydralazine
- oral nifedipine
Blood pressure medications are usually given after treatment with magnesium to help prevent intracerebral hemorrhage and pulmonary edema. These are conditions related to hypertension that can be fatal complications of eclampsia.
It’s important for you and your baby to get enough oxygen during a seizure, so doctors may administer this via a face mask.
Typically,
Delivery of the baby may be needed if other treatments have not resolved the condition.
Whether your baby is delivered early will depend on factors such as:
- severity of your eclampsia
- gestational age of the fetus
- health status of the fetus
- your health status
Delivery may involve inducing labor or performing a cesarean delivery.
Close monitoring of the mother and the baby is essential during and after the treatment of eclampsia. You’ll often need to attend follow-up appointments with healthcare professionals to ensure you recover fully from eclampsia.
Regular assessments of blood pressure, urine, fetal well-being, and laboratory tests may be used to make sure that the condition is properly managed and that there are no further complications.
Medications may be continued to ensure the condition does not come back during the postpartum period.
Most people will recover fully from eclampsia. However, if you experience severe seizures, there’s a small risk of permanent disability or brain damage.
If you have eclampsia, it’s possible for your baby to grow more slowly or for you to experience a stillbirth.
This happens because the condition can cause fewer nutrients and oxygen to reach the baby.
Eclampsia is a serious condition requiring immediate medical attention. Treatment varies based on its severity and the baby’s maturity. Delivery of the baby may be necessary in severe cases.
Prevention measures for eclampsia may be taken during preeclampsia, including blood pressure monitoring and medication to delay delivery until the baby is mature.
Treatment typically involves magnesium sulfate to prevent seizures and antihypertensives to manage blood pressure. Oxygen may be administered during seizures.
Most individuals recover from eclampsia, but there is a small risk of complications. After eclampsia, you and your baby will often need follow-up care to make sure you don’t have complications during the postpartum period.