In the first episode of her new podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, the Duchess said the medical condition was a “huge medical scare” she had to manage without the world knowing what was going on.
“It’s so rare. And it’s so scary,” the mother of two said, describing the condition.
“You’re still trying to juggle all these things and the world doesn’t know what is happening,” Meghan said. “You’re still trying to show up, mostly for your children. But those things are huge medical scares.”
Meghan’s first podcast guest was Whitney Wolfe Herd, chief executive of online dating platform Bumble. Herd said in the podcast that she had also suffered from the condition, which she described as “life or death”.
What is pre-eclampsia?
Pre-eclampsia is a serious medical condition that can occur during pregnancy. It usually arises during the second half of pregnancy, and can even occur some days after delivery.
It is characterised by high blood pressure and can affect various organs, including the liver, kidneys and brain. If left untreated, it can lead to significant complications for both the mother and baby.
What are the symptoms?
Often, pre-eclampsia presents no noticeable symptoms, which underscores the importance of regular antenatal check-ups.
According to Australia’s Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website, symptoms of severe pre-eclampsia can include:
- high blood pressure
- sudden swelling of your hands, face and feet
- headaches that don’t go away with simple pain-relief medicine
- vision problems like flashing lights or spots in your eyes
- severe pain below the ribs or in your upper tummy area
- heartburn that doesn’t go away with antacids
- generally feeling very unwell
How is it diagnosed?
Doctors and midwives monitor blood pressure during routine antenatal appointments. If your blood pressure is high, they may organise some tests to check for pre-eclampsia, which may include a urine test to check for protein and blood tests.
Your baby will also be checked using ultrasound scans to assess their growth and wellbeing, and fetal (baby) heart rate monitoring using a cardiotocograph (CTG).
Does postpartum pre-eclampsia differ?
Yes, postpartum pre-eclampsia occurs after childbirth, usually within 48 hours of childbirth but it can occur at any time up to six weeks after the baby is born. It shows most of the same signs and symptoms of preeclampsia in the mother, such as high blood pressure, but does not affect the baby. Prompt medical attention is crucial if symptoms arise postpartum.
How is pre-eclampsia treated?
The only complete cure for pre-eclampsia that develops during pregnancy is the delivery of the baby and the placenta.
If you have pre-eclampsia, hospitalisation may be necessary. Medications can be administered to lower blood pressure and prevent seizures. In some situations, early delivery of the baby might be recommended to protect the health of both mother and child.
While birth resolves pregnancy-related pre-eclampsia, postpartum pre-eclampsia is treated, not cured by delivery — the body needs time and medical support to return to its pre-pregnancy state.
Can it be prevented?
The Australian Action on Pre-Eclampsia organisation says it does not seem that the disease can be prevented by regulating lifestyle factors, such as what a woman eats, whether or not she smokes or drinks, how hard she works, how much exercise or rest she undertakes, how anxious or relaxed she is, and so on.
For some high-risk women, doctors might recommend low-dose aspirin during pregnancy, which can help reduce their risk of pre-eclampsia. The doctor may also suggest taking calcium or vitamin D supplements.
Attending all scheduled antenatal appointments is essential for early detection of the condition.
