1. Hannah Gamble, Alexa Diersen, Lindsey Korth
Pre-eclampsia
Hannah Gamble, Alexa Diersen, Lindsey Korth
ALEXA - introduce
“We will be looking at this from the biological, psychological, and social perspectives - also emphasizing the cultural and political aspects”

2. What is Preeclampsia?
A pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure, sometimes with fluid retention and proteinuria
*Causes/Risk Factors
* Symptoms
* Treatments
*Complications
*Postpartum Preeclampsia
ALEXA - first two points and last point

3. Misconceptions of Preeclampsia
1) Bedrest can delay the onset of preeclampsia, or at least make your case progress more slowly.
2) Only overweight women get preeclampsia.
3) Preeclampsia only happens in first pregnancies.
4) If you eat right, you won't get preeclampsia.
5) Preeclampsia is rare.
6) Preeclampsia only happens right before term
7) Preeclampsia doesn't affect the baby.
8) Delivery is the cure for preeclampsia.
Lindsey

4. Preeclampsia around the world
Preeclampsia is a problem in both developed and developing countries, but it is more severe and maternal death is much more common in developing countries
Shows a political and social need
More access to adequate health care, especially prenatal care, in developing countries
Preeclampsia awareness saves lives worldwide
ALEXA

5. Postpartum psychiatric episodes/disorders
Almost all women who experience preeclampsia also experience some psychological or psychosocial complaints
Most common: general complaints (fatigue, concentration problems, memory loss, sleeping problems), PTSD, and anxiety/depression
Risk of postpartum depression increases
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Women with traumatic pregnancies, 4 times more likely to test positive for PTSD
Symptoms could include intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal
Lindsey’s Personal Experience
Cultural effects
Causes social problems
Alexa - first bullet point
Hannah PTSD
Lindsey personal experience
Alexa - last two bullet points

6. Social, Cultural, and Political Influenced Risk Factors
Weight
Elevated body mass index is associated with preeclampsia
77% of women in the United States are overweight or obese
Increased risk present in both Caucasians and African Americans
Smoking
Studies in Nordic countries suggest smoking reduces the risk of preeclampsia
Others say that not smoking reduces risk by 50%
Race/Ethnicity
In the US, risks are higher for ethnic minority women than non-Hispanic white women
Influences due to differences biologically, socially, politically, and culturally
Hannah - weight and smoking
Alexa - race/ethnicity
Smoking: not smoking cigarettes during pregnancy decreases the risk of preeclampsia by up to 50%

7. Treatment Advances History
Also known as toxemia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, or pre-eclamptic toxemia
First described by Hippocrates in 400 B.C.
Early “treatments”
Major focus in therapy is focus on preventing eclamptic convulsions
Prenatal care and diagnosis remain largely unchanged
Risk has increased since the 1990s
Hannah - first three bullet points
Alexa - Major focus in therapy: avoid and treat eclamptic convulsions; intramuscular injections of magnesium sulfate was introduced in the early 1900s, and intravenous routes began in 1920s. However, it wasn’t until 1990s that major controlled studies demonstrated superiority over other anticonvulsants.
Since 1960s, prenatal care and the diagnosis process have remained largely unchanged (routine blood pressure measurement and urinalysis.
Risk of preeclampsia has increased since the 1990s in the US because of rising rates of chronic hypertension, diabetes, and obesity

8. Social and Cultural Support
Preeclampsia Foundation
Patient Support Network Volunteer
The Promise Walk for Preeclampsia
Facebook
Support Groups
QUESTIONS??
Lindsey

9. Sources
Poel, Yvonne H. M. et al. (March 2009) Psychological treatment of women with psychological complaints after pre-eclampsia. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, 30(1): 65–72 DOI: /
Chang JJ, Strauss JF III, Deshazo JP, Rigby FB, Chelmow DP, et al. (2014) Reassessing the Impact of Smoking on Preeclampsia/Eclampsia: Are There Age and Racial Differences? PLoS ONE doi: /journal.pone
Currie S, Sinclair M, Murphy MH, Madden E, Dunwoody L, et al. (2013) Reducing the Decline in Physical Activity during Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of Behaviour Change Interventions. PLoS ONE 8(6): e doi: /journal.pone
Fleury C, Parpinelly M, Makuch M. Y. (August 2010) Development of the mother–child relationship following pre-eclampsia. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology. 28 (3), 297–306. DOI: /
Bergink V, et al. (2015) Pre-eclampsia and first-onset postpartum psychiatric episodes: a Danish population-based cohort study. Psychological Medicine. 45, 3481–3489. doi: /S
Osungbade KO, Olusimbo K. Public Health Perspectives of Preeclampsia in Developing Countries: Implication for Health System Strengthening. Journal of Pregnancy. doi: /2011/481095
Goldenberg RL, Jones B, Griffin JB, Rouse DJ, Kamath-Rayne BD, Trivedi N, et al. (2015). Reducing maternal mortality from preeclampsia and eclampsia in low-resource countries – what should work? Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 94: 148–155.DOI: /aogs.12533