6 important facts about preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a form of high blood pressure during pregnancy that can cause health issues. Here’s what you should know about the symptoms and treatments.

One thing you can count on at every prenatal visit? Your doctor will check your blood pressure. Keeping tabs on your numbers is key, since high blood pressure can lead to pregnancy complications. One of the most serious complications is a disorder called preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is a form of high blood pressure that can happen after the 20th week of pregnancy. With preeclampsia, you may suddenly develop high blood pressure and protein in your urine or other problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). You can also get preeclampsia if you have chronic hypertension. If it’s not caught and treated early, this disorder can be dangerous for moms-to-be and their babies.

Preeclampsia affects about 5% to 8% of pregnancies in the United States, according to the CDC. And while there is nothing you can do to prevent it, there are ways your doctor can manage it to keep you and your baby healthy.

If you’ve been diagnosed with preeclampsia, you probably have questions. Here are some facts moms-to-be should know about the condition.

Fact #1: Signs of preeclampsia are sometimes hard to notice

Preeclampsia can develop quietly, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). You may not feel sick or even be aware of it. Or you may notice symptoms that are similar to those of a normal pregnancy, such as swelling. In fact, the first signs of preeclampsia are often detected during a routine prenatal visit.

That’s why it’s important for you to keep up with your prenatal checkups, so your doctor can screen you. However, if you notice any of these signs or symptoms, tell your provider right away:

Constant headaches
Blurred vision, spots in front of your eyes, or sensitivity to light
Sudden swelling in your hands, face or eyelids
Sudden weight gain
Pain in the upper right side of your abdomen
Shortness of breath
Nausea and vomiting (in the second half of pregnancy)

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Fact #2: Preeclampsia can cause health problems if it’s not treated

Without treatment, preeclampsia can lead to severe health issues. That’s why getting it under control is key.

“Preeclampsia can worsen into eclampsia, which means you’re having seizures in addition to high blood pressure,” says ob-gyn Rachel Adams, M.D. “It can also worsen into HELLP syndrome, which is elevated liver enzymes and low platelets in your blood.”

In pregnant women, untreated preeclampsia can also lead to:

Kidney, liver, and brain damage
Blood clots
Stroke

And it can cause complications for the baby, including:

Premature birth
Placental abruption (when the placenta separates from the uterus before birth)
Low birth weight

Fact #3: Preeclampsia treatment can be different for each patient

Preeclampsia treatment depends on how severe your condition is and how far along you are in your pregnancy. Your ob-gyn will monitor you closely.

You may also be referred to a high-risk specialist called an MFM, or maternal fetal medicine doctor, says Dr. Adams. “They will give you routine ultrasounds to measure the growth of the baby, and to look at blood flow across the placenta.”

If you develop preeclampsia at 37 weeks or later, your baby will likely have to be delivered early, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Preeclampsia that comes on earlier than 37 weeks will require more care from your ob-gyn — you’ll have more prenatal visits, ultrasounds, and urine and blood tests.

You can also monitor yourself at home with a blood pressure cuff. “You can ask your doctor for a prescription,” Dr. Adams says. “Sit still for five minutes, make sure your arm is around your heart level, and then check your blood pressure.”

Fact #4: Certain people are at higher risk of preeclampsia

Doctors don’t know exactly how preeclampsia develops. But they do know that certain things make some people more likely to develop the condition. According to the Mayo Clinic, you might be at higher risk if you:

Are pregnant for the first time with your current partner
Had preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy
Are pregnant with more than one baby
Have obesity
Have a family history of preeclampsia
Are older than 35
Are Black
Have an autoimmune disorder
Have a history of diabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney disease
Used in vitro fertilization
Were last pregnant more than 10 years ago

Fact #5: Low-dose aspirin may help prevent preeclampsia

If you’re at risk of preeclampsia, taking low-dose aspirin (baby aspirin) daily may reduce your risk of developing it, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

“Your doctor will likely start you on that regimen between 12 and 16 weeks and continue that through the rest of your pregnancy,” Dr. Adams says. It does not completely prevent preeclampsia. But it does decrease its likelihood, she says.

Fact #6: You can have preeclampsia after your baby is born

Preeclampsia could linger for up to six weeks, even after you give birth. And some people don’t develop preeclampsia until shortly after they give birth.

In the first six weeks or so after delivery, there’s a rare chance of developing postpartum preeclampsia. “It can affect people that never had any issues with high blood pressure while they were pregnant,” says Dr. Adams.

The symptoms of postpartum preeclampsia are the same as those of preeclampsia. Tell your doctor right away if you notice any issues.

It’s important to remember that most pregnant women with preeclampsia have healthy babies, says the March of Dimes. So, if you do get a diagnosis, your doctor will do everything possible to keep you and your baby healthy until delivery day.

Additional sources:
Preeclampsia facts, statistic: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Symptoms: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Early delivery: Cleveland Clinic
Risk factors: Mayo Clinic
Aspirin recommendation: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
Preeclampsia and healthy pregnancy: March of Dimes