Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy that occurs in about 2-8% of all pregnancies. With preeclampsia, you might have high blood pressure, high levels of protein in urine that indicate kidney damage, or other signs of organ damage. Preeclampsia usually begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy in women whose blood pressure had previously been in the standard range.
Having high blood pressure increases your chance of having complications during your pregnancy including a premature baby, low birth weight baby, or preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia usually occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy. Preeclampsia may also develop after delivery of a baby, a condition known as postpartum preeclampsia.
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Preeclampsia treatment includes careful monitoring and medications to lower blood pressure and manage complications. If left untreated, preeclampsia can cause organ damage in the mother, preterm delivery, and can be fatal for both mother and baby.
Make sure you attend your prenatal visits so that your health care provider can monitor your blood pressure.
Contact your provider immediately or go to an emergency room if you have severe headaches, blurred vision, other visual disturbances, severe belly pain, or severe shortness of breath.
Cause
The exact cause of preeclampsia likely involves several factors. Early in a pregnancy, new blood vessels develop and evolve to supply oxygen and nutrients to the placenta. In women with preeclampsia, these blood vessels don’t seem to develop or work properly. Problems with how well blood circulates in the placenta may lead to the irregular regulation of blood pressure in the mother.
Symptoms
The defining feature of preeclampsia is high blood pressure, proteinuria, or other signs of damage to the kidneys or other organs. You may have no noticeable symptoms. The first signs of preeclampsia are often detected during routine prenatal visits with a health care provider.
Along with high blood pressure, preeclampsia signs and symptoms may include:
- Excess protein in urine (proteinuria) or other signs of kidney problems
- Decreased levels of platelets in blood (thrombocytopenia)
- Increased liver enzymes that indicate liver problems
- Severe headaches
- Changes in vision, including temporary loss of vision, blurred vision or light sensitivity
- Shortness of breath, caused by fluid in the lungs
- Pain in the upper belly, usually under the ribs on the right side
- Nausea or vomiting
Weight gain and swelling are typical during healthy pregnancies. However, sudden weight gain or a sudden appearance of swelling, particularly in your face and hands, may be a sign of preeclampsia.