Inductions for Women Suffering from Pre-eclampsia

by Kim Neyer | More from this Blogger

A new study concludes that women suffering from pre-eclampsia should be induced after 37 weeks of pregnancy. Pre-eclampsia occurs when a pregnant woman develops high blood pressure and has the presence of protein in her urine. It can be very dangerous if left untreated. It was found that inducing labor in women beyond 37 weeks cut the risks of severe high blood pressure and the need for cesarean section. In addition, women who had induced labor had a 29 percent lower risk for developing poor maternal outcome, which may include death, eclampsia, pulmonary edema, progression to severe high blood pressure, major post-birth bleeding, and HELLP syndrome. If pre-clampsia develops into eclampsia, the baby must be delivered immediately.

Typically, women with pre-eclampsia are closely monitored by their doctors in case it turns into eclampsia. They are often put on bed rest, but are still allowed to carry to full term as long as their condition is stable. This standard may soon change because of this study; some doctors are now recommending induction at 37 weeks as new practice for women suffering pre-eclampsia. Though 37 weeks is still technically considered term, inductions are not normally done until after 40 weeks. Even scheduled cesareans are scheduled around 39 weeks.

Being born two or three weeks sooner than the full 40 weeks isn't as harmless as previously thought. There are still some risks for these babies who are born at 37 weeks. According to a study released earlier this summer, those few weeks can impact IQ. These babies also have a higher risk of dying during early infancy. When it comes to the complications and dangers associated with the risks of eclampisa, however, the risks of early delivery seem small.

Induction has seen a huge rise and decline in popularity over the past decade or so. If it can improve the health of the mother and baby, or even save a life, I don't see any reason to oppose it.

Learn more about Kim Neyer

Kim is a freelance writer, photographer and stay at home mom to her one-year-old son, Micah. She has been married to her husband, Eric, since 2006.

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