The harm of eclampsia and its nursing measures

Eclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication that poses a serious threat to the health and life safety of pregnant women and fetuses. Eclampsia may cause a series of serious complications, such as convulsions, loss of consciousness, organ failure, and may even lead to death. Therefore, the care of eclampsia is very important. This article discusses the hazards of eclampsia and effective nursing measures to enhance readers' understanding of eclampsia.

1. What is eclampsia?

Eclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication that usually occurs in the third trimester. It is an emergency and poses a serious threat to the health of pregnant women and their babies. Eclampsia is usually caused by the progression of pregnancy-induced hypertension, which refers to high blood pressure in pregnant women after 20 weeks of pregnancy, accompanied by increased protein in the urine, but without convulsions. If pregnancy-induced hypertension is not controlled in time, it may further develop into eclampsia.

Symptoms of eclampsia include: high blood pressure, proteinuria, edema (especially the face and hands and feet), headache, visual impairment, upper abdominal pain, convulsions and loss of consciousness. Convulsions are the most significant symptom of eclampsia and may last for minutes or even hours. If convulsions occur, seek medical attention immediately and take emergency measures in time.

2. The hazards of eclampsia

1. Harm to pregnant women

Liver function impairment: Eclampsia can cause HELLP syndrome, which is a syndrome of thrombocytopenia, hemolysis, and abnormal liver function. Impaired liver function may lead to complications such as jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, and severe internal bleeding.

Muscle twitching and loss of consciousness: During an eclamptic attack, pregnant women may experience severe muscle twitches that may cause them to temporarily lose consciousness, putting them in a dangerous and emergency situation.

Coma and organ failure: In severe cases of eclampsia, pregnant women may go into a coma, a dangerous condition that, if not treated urgently, can lead to the failure of multiple organs, including the heart, kidneys, lungs, and central nervous system.

Coagulation abnormalities: Eclampsia can interfere with the coagulation mechanism, leading to abnormal platelet function and abnormal coagulation factors, increasing the risk of bleeding, causing persistent bleeding, severe anemia and other coagulation-related complications.

(II) Harm to the fetus

Hypoxia and developmental delay: Due to placental insufficiency, the fetus may not be able to obtain sufficient oxygen and nutrients, resulting in fetal hypoxia and developmental delay, causing irreversible effects on the development of the fetus's brain, heart, lungs and other important organs.

Intrauterine distress: Placental insufficiency can lead to the deterioration of the intrauterine environment, resulting in intrauterine distress. Intrauterine distress means that the living environment of the fetus in the uterus becomes unfavorable, thereby causing pressure on the various organs and systems of the fetus, which may lead to a variety of health problems in the fetus at birth.

Fetal death: In severe cases of eclampsia, the fetus may not receive adequate oxygen supply, resulting in an increased risk of fetal death, which is one of the most serious consequences of eclampsia and can cause tremendous psychological and emotional stress for pregnant women.

3. Nursing Guidelines for Eclampsia

1. Monitoring physical signs

Temperature monitoring: Pregnant women can use a thermometer to measure their body temperature every morning. Recording changes in body temperature can help monitor whether pregnant women have infections and other diseases. If the body temperature exceeds the normal range (usually 37.5°C/99.5°F), you should contact a doctor in time.

Blood pressure monitoring: Pregnant women should measure their blood pressure every day. High blood pressure during pregnancy is an important sign of eclampsia. The normal range of blood pressure is systolic pressure (the highest pressure) less than 140 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and diastolic pressure (the lowest pressure) less than 90 mmHg. If your blood pressure is outside the normal range or increases significantly, you should tell your doctor immediately.

Other physical signs and changes: In addition to body temperature and blood pressure, pregnant women should also pay attention to other physical symptoms and changes, such as headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, abdominal pain, edema (especially fingers, ankles and face), decreased urine volume, etc. These symptoms may be signs of eclampsia and should be reported to the doctor in time.

2. Maintain good rest and sleep

Regular work and rest schedule: Pregnant women need to establish a regular work and rest schedule, try to go to bed at a fixed time every day, and ensure adequate sleep time. It is recommended to sleep 7-9 hours a night.

Create a good sleeping environment: In order to get a good sleep, pregnant women can create a comfortable sleeping environment, ensure that the room is quiet, dark, and at a suitable temperature, use comfortable mattresses and pillows, and reduce discomfort during sleep.

Relaxation techniques: Before going to bed, pregnant women can try some relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, warm bath, listening to soothing music, reading positive books or doing light stretching exercises, etc., which can help relax the body and mind and promote sleep.

3. Handling of emergency situations

Pregnant women should seek medical help immediately in case of emergency and should not delay seeking medical help. When seeking help from medical service personnel, pregnant women should clearly inform medical service personnel of their pregnancy status and any possible complications. This will help medical staff better understand the condition and take appropriate measures.

In short, pregnant women need to pay close attention to their health conditions and take appropriate care measures under the guidance of doctors to minimize the risk of complications and protect the health of pregnant women and fetuses. The views in this article are personal suggestions and are for reference only. For specific treatment or care, you should follow the doctor's advice based on your specific situation. (Sun Xiaona, Shijiazhuang Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Hebei Province)