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The money will go towards professional help and support for families affected by this condition. As well as, medical research, support over the phone and financial support for the partner and the baby.
About Us
We want to raise awareness of Pre-Eclampsia to ensure safe pregnancies and saving the lives of mothers and their babies.
What is Pre-Eclampsia and Eclampsia?
Pre-Eclampsia causes high blood pressure (hypertension) and protein in urine (proteinuria) in pregnant women. Eclampsia is a term that describes a type of convulsion or fit (involuntary contraction that pregnant women can experience).
About Estelle
Estelle comes from Occitan language ‘estela’ which means “star”.
Estelle developed the most severe form of eclampsia known as HELLP syndrome. Her vital organs were badly affected: the loss of blood platelets meant that her blood was unable to clot.
The charity Star Eclampsia and HELLP Foundation has been set up to raise the profile of this illness. The name of the charity is modelled on Estelle Deleplanque, using her name and her personality: a star which acts as a guide and helps people who need it. Just like her, we put others first and want to help those affected by this illness as well as their friends and family. With your support, we hope to see one day every family benefit from the miracle of life.
SEVERE HEADACHES
FEELING VERY UNWELL
VISION PROBLEMS, SUCH AS
BLURRING OR SEEING FLASHING
PAIN JUST BELOW THE RIBS
VOMITING
EXCESSIVE WEIGHT GAIN
CAUSED BY FLUID RETEN
- What is Pre-Eclampsia?
- What is Eclampsia?
- What treatment should you be receiving?
- What causes the problems with placenta?
What is Pre-Eclampsia?
Pre-Eclampsia is a condition that affects some pregnant women, Pre-Eclampsia rarely happens before the 20th week of pregnancy. Most cases occur in the third trimester, after 24-26 weeks the condition can also develop for the first time during the first six weeks after the birth. Although many cases are mild, the condition can lead to serious complications for both mother and baby if it is not monitored and treated.
What is Eclampsia?
Eclampsia is a term that describes a type of convulsion or fit (involuntary contraction of that pregnant women can experience), usually from week 20 of the pregnancy or immediately after the birth. In the UK, there is an estimated 1 case for every 4,000 pregnancies.
What treatment should you be receiving?
If you are diagnosed with Pre-eclampsia you and your baby should be monitored in hospital. There will be many tests done regularly to make sure that your medication is helping and that your baby is developing without more worry.
What causes the problems with placenta?
In Pre-Eclampsia, the placenta does not get enough blood to support the growing baby. The placenta needs a large and constant supply of blood from the mother and if the placenta did not develop properly as it was forming during the first half of the pregnancy this may be the cause. The problem with the placenta means that the blood supply between mother and baby is disrupted. Signals from the damaged placenta affect the mother’s blood vessels, causing high blood pressure (hypertension). At the same time, problems in the kidneys may cause valuable proteins that should remain in the mother’s blood to leak into her urine, resulting in protein in the urine (proteinuria).
Is Downton Abbey proof of the merits of eclampsia storylines in popular culture?
Is Downton Abbey proof of the merits of eclampsia storylines in popular culture? Over two years after the episodes aired, the eclampsia storyline on Downton Abbey is still raising awareness as fans take to Twitter and YouTube to discuss Sybil Branson’s tragic death. The hugely successful show starring Hugh Bonneville and Laura Carmichael, brought attention […]
Darcey Bussell reveals she “almost died” while giving birth to her daughter due to pre-eclampsia
Darcey Bussell has bravely spoken out about suffering from pre-eclampsia complications while giving birth to her daughter in 2001. Speaking to the Daily Star, Bussell said: “My first child, Phoebe, was two months premature and I had pre-eclampsia. I nearly didn’t get through that. ‘I could have gone into a coma at any second. So […]
Ground-breaking new blood test set to predict late pre-eclampsia with 90% accuracy
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-41831074 Ground-breaking new blood test set to predict late pre-eclampsia with 90% accuracy Pre-eclampsia currently affects up to 6% of pregnancies in the UK but this new study is a ray of hope to significantly reduce that statistic through a simple blood test. Scientists at the Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine and Immunology in San Francisco […]
Emmanuelle Spriet Toussaint
Arnaud Toussaint
Maud Frigero
Stefano Frigero
