Preeclampsia and Pregnancy Over 40: A Dangerous Risk for Mother and Baby

I am a new mom again. I had a late-in-life baby at 43 years old. I discovered that I had preeclampsia when I went to the hospital and that my baby and I could die from complications of it. Preeclampsia is a very dangerous condition and should be treated early.

Preeclampsia is a condition that can be life-threatening for both mother and baby. The symptoms of preeclampsia include swelling in the legs and feet, hands and face, elevated blood pressure, headache, dizziness and double-vision. The condition is recognized as marked increase in blood pressure and protein in the urine.

It is important to let your doctor know if you have any of these symptoms. I had read about this on the Internet because of the swelling in my legs but didn't think it applied to me because I only had a couple of the symptoms. I had the swelling in my feet, legs and thighs so bad I couldn't wear shoes or hardly even walk. My increased weight made it difficult to breathe when walking any distance or laying flat. On top of that I had Mitral Valve Prolapse, a condition which causes heart palpitations, dizziness and cold sweats.

My Story

I delivered my son on January 5^th of this year and he is a beautiful, healthy boy despite the fact that I had preeclampsia when he was born and we both stayed in the hospital for a week after. The doctor explained that my blood pressure was dangerously high and the only way to ensure the baby's safety was to get him out. I was past my due date so that was fine, but the doctor's concern was that I could have a seizure and we could both die during delivery.

I had several factors against me: I am 43 years old, overweight (255 lbs with baby), have Mitral Valve Prolapse and severe edema in the lower extremities. My blood pressure rose to 250/100 from my normal 120/80.

The hospital took every precaution to make sure to put the least amount of stress on the baby. I spent my labor in a darkened room, sedated and monitored very closely. I had been given the epidural prior to calculate the proper dose. The baby was delivered quickly and perfectly healthy.

The baby and I spent the next week in the hospital attempting to get my blood pressure back down within normal range. I was relieved that everything went so well. I had been worried about how my body would adjust to the labor and delivery with all the pressure from the fluid in my body. I was so huge that I could barely move on my own. I had gained 50 lbs during this pregnancy and I had a lot of fluid retention.

Having a baby at 43 was unexpected but it was the best thing that ever happened to me. My little boy makes me appreciate being a mom all over again. I have 3 grown children and my new baby just turned a month old. Even as hard as it was, it was worth it and I would do it all over again if I had to.

If you are pregnant and over 40, talk to your doctor about the early signs of preeclampsia. The information I read mostly talked about swelling in the hands and face as being the most serious. I brushed it off because I knew that swelling in the legs and feet were normal during pregnancy. If left untreated, preeclampsia can turn into eclampsia which can lead to serious complications such as seizures, coma and even death of the mother and baby. Talk to your doctor and educate yourself about this and other serious complications during pregnancy.

More information:
Web MD: Preeclampsia and Eclampsia

Resource: Personal experience