Diagram of the regions (or quadrants) of the abdomen, to assist in locating the right upper quadrant or the epigastric region, where<unk> -associated pain may occur<unk>  is a disorder of pregnancy characterized by seizures in the setting of pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia is diagnosed when repeated blood pressure measurements are greater or equal to 140/90mmHg, in addition to any signs of organ dysfunction, including: proteinuria, thrombocytopenia, renal insufficiency, impaired liver function, pulmonary edema, cerebral symptoms, or abdominal pain. Typically the pregnant woman develops hypertension and proteinuria before the onset of a convulsion (seizure). * Long-lasting (persistent) headaches * Blurred vision * Photophobia (i.e. bright light causes discomfort) * Abdominal pain *Either in the epigastric region (the center of the abdomen above the navel, or belly-button) * And/or in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen (below the right side of the rib cage) * Altered mental status (confusion) Any of these symptoms may present before or after a seizure occurs. It is also possible that none of these symptoms will develop. Other cerebral signs may immediately precede the convulsion, such as nausea, vomiting, headaches, and cortical blindness. If the complication of multi-organ failure ensues, signs and symptoms of those failing organs will appear, such as abdominal pain, jaundice, shortness of breath, and diminished urine output. Onset The seizures of<unk>  typically present during pregnancy and prior to delivery (the antepartum period), but may also occur during labor and delivery (the intrapartum period) or after the baby has been delivered (the postpartum period). If postpartum seizures develop, it is most likely to occur within the first 48 hours after delivery. However, late postpartum seizures of<unk>  may occur as late as 4 weeks after delivery. Complications There are risks to both the mother and the fetus when<unk>  occurs. The fetus may grow more slowly than normal within the womb (uterus) of a woman with<unk> , which is termed intrauterine growth restriction and may result in the child appearing small for gestational age or being born with low birth weight.<unk>  may cause problems with the placenta to occur. The placenta may bleed (hemorrhage) or it may begin to separate from the wall of the uterus. It is normal for the placenta to separate from the uterine wall during delivery, but it is abnormal for it to separate prior to delivery; this condition is called placental abruption and can be dangerous for the fetus. Placental insufficiency may also occur, a state in which the placenta fails to support appropriate fetal development because it cannot deliver the necessary amount of oxygen or nutrients to the fetus. During an eclamptic seizure, the beating of the fetal heart may become slower than normal (bradycardia). If any of these complications occurs, fetal distress may develop. Treatment of the mother's seizures may also manage fetal bradycardia. If the risk to the health of the fetus or the mother is high, the definitive treatment for<unk>  is delivery of the baby. Delivery by cesarean section may be deemed necessary, especially if the instance of fetal bradycardia does not resolve after 10 to 15 minutes of resuscitative interventions. It may be safer to deliver the infant preterm than to wait for the full 40 weeks of fetal development to finish, and as a result prematurity is also a potential complication of<unk> . In the mother, changes in vision may occur as a result of<unk> , and these changes may include blurry vision, one-sided blindness (either temporary due to amaurosis fugax or potentially permanent due to retinal detachment), or cortical blindness, which affects the vision from both eyes. There are also potential complications in the lungs. The woman may have fluid slowly collecting in the lungs in a process known as pulmonary edema. During an eclamptic seizure, it is possible for a person to vomit the contents of the stomach and to inhale some of this material in a process known as aspiration. If aspiration occurs, the woman may experience difficulty breathing immediately or could develop an infection in the lungs later, called aspiration pneumonia. It is also possible that during a seizure breathing will stop temporarily or become inefficient, and the amount of oxygen reaching the woman's body and brain will be decreased (in a state known as hypoxia). If it becomes difficult for the woman to breathe, she may need to have her breathing temporarily supported by an assistive device in a process called mechanical ventilation. In some severe<unk>  cases, the mother may become weak and sluggish (lethargy) or even comatose. These may be signs that the brain is swelling (cerebral edema) or bleeding (intracerebral hemorrhage).
Eclampsia
Pre-eclampsia
Hypertensive disease of pregnancy
Hyperemesis gravidarum
Early pregnancy bleeding
Gestational hypertension
Antepartum bleeding
Recurrent miscarriage