Understanding preeclampsia
High blood pressure during pregnancy is a serious condition. Having high blood pressure, or hypertension, is considered a factor for a high-risk pregnancy. There are different types of high blood pressure during pregnancy. The 3 most common types of high blood pressure during pregnancy are chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.1
What is preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a condition in which high blood pressure develops and can affect any of the body’s organs, including the liver, kidneys, lungs, brain and placenta. If not treated, it can be very dangerous. It usually starts after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Sometimes it happens earlier. If it starts after the baby is born, it’s called postpartum preeclampsia.
What are the signs of preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia can start to happen without you being aware of it.1 Identifying and managing high blood pressure can reduce the risk of preeclampsia. Preeclampsia symptoms can include:2
- High blood pressure
- Swelling in your hands or face
- Bad headache
- Blurry eyesight or seeing spots
- Pain above your stomach or in your shoulder
- Feeling nauseous or vomiting
- Gaining weight suddenly
- Trouble breathing
You should contact your health care provider right away if you have any of these symptoms.
If preeclampsia is unmanaged and becomes severe, signs can include:1
- Low number of platelets in the blood
- Problems with kidneys or liver
- Pain in the upper abdomen
- Changes in eyesight
- Buildup of fluid in the lungs
- Very bad headache
Severe preeclampsia can lead to a condition that can cause seizures, stroke or coma.
A complication of preeclampsia is called HELLP syndrome. It breaks down red blood cells and makes it hard for blood to clot the way it should. People with HELLP might have chest or belly pain, and sometimes their liver can bleed. This condition is a medical emergency.1
What causes preeclampsia?
The exact cause of preeclampsia is not known, but you may have moderate or severe risk factors. Moderate risk factors for preeclampsia include:1
- Your first pregnancy
- A pregnancy more than 10 years after your last pregnancy
- Having a body mass index (BMI) over 30
- Someone in your family (like your mother or sister) had preeclampsia
- Age 35 years old or older
- Problems in earlier pregnancies, like having a baby with low birth weight
- Getting pregnant through in vitro fertilization (IVF)
- Being Black (because of racism and inequities that raise risk of illness)
- Having lower income (because of inequities that raise risk of illness)
How does preeclampsia affect the baby?
High blood pressure from preeclampsia may lessen blood flow to the placenta. This can keep the baby from getting nutrients and oxygen. The most common complications to the baby are:2,3
How is preeclampsia diagnosed?
High blood pressure can be a sign of preeclampsia. If your blood pressure reading is high during a prenatal visit, your obstetrician or gynecologist (OB/GYN) may recheck it. Your provider may also recommend a urine test to check for protein. You may also have blood tests to check how your liver and kidneys are working and to measure the number of platelets in your blood.1
What is the treatment for preeclampsia?
Your provider will talk to you about how to manage your high-risk pregnancy. If your condition isn’t severe, your provider may see you as an outpatient once or twice per week. Your provider may recommend checking your blood pressure at home and keeping track of the baby’s movement. Your OB/GYN may talk to you about early delivery at 37 weeks.1
If you have severe preeclampsia, you may need to stay in the hospital. If you’re at least 34 weeks pregnant, your provider may talk to you about early delivery.1
How to prevent preeclampsia
Before you get pregnant, you can talk to your provider about the risk factors for preeclampsia. Prevention involves taking steps to address risk factors. Watching and treating high blood pressure during pregnancy may help prevent preeclampsia.2
Your provider may also recommend taking low-dose aspirin. Talk to your OB/GYN about whether you should take aspirin. Do not start taking aspirin without talking with your OB/GYN.1
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