Eclampsia is one of the most serious and scary obstetric emergencies. It happens when a pregnant woman has a seizure suddenly, which can put both her and her baby's lives in danger. Detecting and carefully managing preeclampsia early on is the key to avoiding this scary crisis. An eclamptic seizure is a medical emergency that needs to be treated right away in a hospital. However, the Direct Primary Care (DPC) model is perfect for proactive, high-touch prenatal monitoring that can stop it from happening. A DPC doctor can be your best partner in making sure your pregnancy is safer.
Preeclampsia is a serious blood pressure problem that happens after the 20th week of pregnancy. It is marked by high blood pressure that starts suddenly and signs of organ damage, such as protein in the urine.
Eclampsia: The most serious type of the disease, it happens when a woman with preeclampsia has a generalized seizure for the first time. It is a real medical emergency.
The Only Way to Get Better: The only way to completely treat preeclampsia and eclampsia is to give birth to the baby and the placenta. The goal of medical management is to keep the mother safe and, if possible, give the baby more time to grow before delivery is needed.
Important Signs of Preeclampsia: Every pregnant woman needs to know about these possible warning signs and tell her doctor right away if she sees any of them:
A headache that won't go away with over-the-counter painkillers.
Changes in vision, like seeing spots, flashing lights, or blurry vision that starts suddenly.
Pain in the upper right side of the abdomen or shoulder.
Rapidly growing swelling, especially in the face and hands.
Notice: Eclampsia is an emergency that could kill you. A pregnant woman who is having a seizure or showing signs of severe preeclampsia needs to go to the hospital right away. DPC's very important job is all about preventing problems, finding them early, and quickly sorting them out. This is why DPC is the best place to go for prenatal care:
Preventing and finding preeclampsia early on: This is the most important thing a DPC doctor can do to stop a disaster.
Frequent, Unhurried Prenatal Visits: With DPC's model, you can have your blood pressure and urine closely watched at every prenatal visit without feeling rushed. This is the most important part of early detection.
Starting preventive therapy early: Your DPC doctor can tell if you are at high risk for developing preeclampsia early in your pregnancy and can start you on the recommended low-dose aspirin therapy to help prevent it.
Quick Response to Your Symptoms: DPC makes it easier for pregnant women to get in touch with their doctor right away if they have a new headache or swelling. This makes it possible to get an evaluation on the same day and find preeclampsia as soon as possible.
Quick triage and coordinated hospital care: If you have preeclampsia or are worried about having an eclamptic seizure, your DPC doctor should help you get to the hospital's labor and delivery unit right away and safely. They can call the on-call OB/GYN or hospitalist ahead of time to give a short, accurate report so that the specialty team is ready for you when you arrive.
A partner for long-term and postpartum health: The risks of preeclampsia don't go away after the baby is born.
Close Postpartum Follow-Up: DPC gives you the close follow-up you need after giving birth to check for postpartum preeclampsia and help your blood pressure return to normal.
Managing Risks for Life: Women who have had preeclampsia or eclampsia are much more likely to get chronic high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke in the future. Your DPC doctor is the best person to help you deal with these heart disease risk factors for the rest of your life.
Case 1 (Prevention): Jessica, who is 30 weeks pregnant, calls her DPC doctor on a Saturday because she has a bad headache that Tylenol isn't helping. Her doctor told her to check her blood pressure at home, and it is high. The doctor tells her to go straight to labor and delivery for an evaluation. The hospital team confirms the diagnosis of preeclampsia and can safely manage it, stopping it from getting worse and turning into eclampsia. This is thanks to the DPC doctor's quick response after hours.
Case 2 (Long-Term Care): Maria, 42, had very bad preeclampsia during her last pregnancy ten years ago. Her DPC doctor keeps this important risk factor in mind when taking care of her health. They don't just check her blood pressure during her yearly physical; they also go over her aggressive blood pressure and cholesterol goals, talk about her diet and exercise plan, and remind her of their long-term plan to keep her heart healthy.
Q: Is it okay to have a little high blood pressure while pregnant? A: No. Blood pressure can change, but any new high blood pressure after 20 weeks of pregnancy is not normal until proven otherwise. It should be checked right away because it could be a sign of preeclampsia.
Q: What is the main way to treat an active eclamptic seizure? A: The best medicine in the hospital is magnesium sulfate given through an IV. This medicine works very well to stop a seizure that is already happening and to stop more seizures from happening. It is a life-saving act.
Q: I had preeclampsia before. Am I always at risk? A: If you have had preeclampsia in the past, you are more likely to get chronic high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke later in life. But you can use this information to your advantage. You can greatly lower that higher risk by working with a DPC doctor to actively manage your cardiovascular risk factors for the rest of your life.
The DPC model is clearly better for pregnant women because it:
Being great at prevention through careful prenatal care: The DPC model of frequent, accessible, and high-touch prenatal care is the best way to find preeclampsia in its early stages.
Giving people a "First Alert" system for real emergencies: DPC's quick access lets experts quickly sort through patients and send them to the hospital when dangerous symptoms show up.
DPC is the best medical home for people who have had a preeclamptic pregnancy because they are at a higher risk of heart disease for the rest of their lives.
Eclampsia is an avoidable disaster in pregnancy. Having a medical partner who is always on the lookout, listens to your worries, and acts quickly when necessary is the key to a safe and healthy pregnancy. Direct Primary Care offers proactive prenatal care to help avoid a crisis and a lifelong partnership to keep your heart healthy for decades after you give birth.
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