Preeclampsia is when a pregnant woman has high blood pressure, protein in her urine, and swelling in the legs, feet, and hands and here are the warning signs of preeclampsia.
The danger with preeclampsia is that it can lead to eclampsia, a serious condition that can have health risks for both mom and baby.
It can range from mild to severe and usually happens late in pregnancy, though it can come as early as 20 weeks or immediately after giving birth.
In rare cases, it can cause death.
Preeclampsia warning signs
Tell-tale signs of preeclampsia are swelling, protein in the urine, and high blood pressure.
You can help protect yourself by learning the signs and symptoms.
Other symptoms to watch out for include:
- very rapid weight gain
- shoulder pain
- stomach pain, especially in the upper right side
- severe headaches
- change in reflexes or mental state
- peeing less or not at all
- dizziness
- difficulty breathing
- Severe vomiting and nausea
- Blurry vision.
Some women with preeclampsia don’t have any symptoms, so it’s important you attend all your prenatal appointments so that your doctor can keep an eye on your blood pressure and urine samples.
Treatment
The only cure for preeclampsia is to give birth. But even postpartum, symptoms can last six weeks or more.
Catching preeclampsia early may lower the chances of long-term problems for both mom and baby.
Your doctor will talk with you about when to deliver based on how far along your baby is, how well your baby is doing, and the severity of your preeclampsia.
Induction
If your baby has developed well, usually by 37 weeks or later, your doctor may want to induce labor or do a c-section.
If your baby isn’t close to term, your doctor treat mild preeclampsia until your baby has developed enough to be safely delivered.