Going to all of your prenatal appointments during pregnancy is important. During these appointments, you’ll get updates on you and your baby’s health, and you’ll get recommendations to help your pregnancy be as healthy as possible. But the purpose of these appointments is also for detecting the first signs of certain pregnancy complications.
Preeclampsia, which affects about 1 in 25 pregnancies in the United States, is one such complication that can pose serious health risks if it goes untreated. The routine assessments (and additional tests if needed) you receive during prenatal appointments can diagnose preeclampsia so you can get the treatment you need.
Keeping you and your baby safe is your care team’s top priority, but it’s worth knowing what a preeclampsia diagnosis might mean for your pregnancy. Here, we cover what preeclampsia is, as well as its signs, symptoms and risk factors. Learn what you can do to reduce your risk of developing preeclampsia and how your care team will help with prevention and treatment.
What is preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication that causes a pregnant woman who has normal blood pressure to suddenly develop high blood pressure, along with other symptoms such as those of an organ injury, a low blood platelet count or other issues. It typically occurs in the last three months of pregnancy, with the majority of cases developing in the final weeks. Rarely, preeclampsia can also occur shortly after giving birth, or up to six weeks later. This is known as postpartum preeclampsia.
The exact cause of preeclampsia isn’t completely understood. Studies have shown that it’s linked to abnormal placenta formation during pregnancy, which can cause arteries throughout the body to tighten. Without treatment, preeclampsia can lead to a range of serious complications, including placental abruption, fetal growth restriction, stroke and eclampsia – which is when someone with preeclampsia starts having seizures.
Signs of preeclampsia are usually detected at prenatal appointments
In its early stages, preeclampsia often has few or no symptoms. But if your care team finds that you have new high blood pressure at one of your prenatal appointments, they’ll test for other signs that would indicate preeclampsia.
They may perform a urine test to check for blood cells or excess protein, which can be signs of a kidney issue. They may also perform a blood test to check for a decreased platelet count. In addition, blood tests can detect liver issues in the form of increased liver enzymes, and kidney issues indicated by a buildup of creatinine, a waste product.
In more serious cases, preeclampsia can cause symptoms, including:
- Unexplained headaches that don’t respond to medication
- Vision changes such as blurriness, light sensitivity or temporary vision loss
- Shortness of breath
- Upper belly pain, usually under the ribs on the right side of the body
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sudden weight gain
- Swelling in the face and hands
Many of these symptoms also occur normally during pregnancy, so it’s important to get them checked. Talk to your care team immediately if you notice any of the above symptoms and go to an emergency room if they’re sudden or severe.
How preeclampsia affects the baby
Preeclampsia can cause a restriction of blood flow throughout the body. This includes blood flow to the baby, limiting their ability to receive oxygen and nutrients. Because of this, preeclampsia has the potential to restrict the baby’s growth. But try not to worry, your care team will be carefully monitoring your baby’s health throughout your pregnancy.
Preeclampsia risk factors include health conditions and certain aspects of pregnancy
Some aspects of your health and medical history can increase your risk of preeclampsia. This includes health conditions that affect your blood pressure or that can contribute to organ damage, including:
- Chronic high blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Kidney disease
- Autoimmune disorders such as lupus or antiphospholipid syndrome (a condition that causes blood clots)
- Obesity
In addition, higher preeclampsia risk is associated with having certain pregnancy characteristics, including:
- A personal or family history of preeclampsia or other pregnancy complications
- Carrying multiples (such as twins or triplets)
- In vitro fertilization (IVF)
- Pregnancy over the age of 35
- Being pregnant for the first time or for the first time in 10 years
How to prevent preeclampsia
If you aren’t yet pregnant, the best way to reduce your risk of developing preeclampsia is to make or maintain healthy choices. Eat a healthy diet during pregnancy (which can be very similar to a pregnancy diet), exercise regularly and talk with your care team about managing any existing health conditions.
Of course, it’s still important to eat healthy and stay active during your pregnancy. But once you’re pregnant, the most effective way to prevent preeclampsia is to go to all of your prenatal appointments and follow your care team’s recommendations. Your care team will be fully aware of any risk factors you have and will know how to manage them where possible. If you’re at particular risk of developing preeclampsia, you may also be prescribed low-dose aspirin, which has been shown to help prevent or delay its onset in high-risk cases.
Treatments for preeclampsia depend on its severity
The primary treatment for preeclampsia is to deliver the baby. The timing of delivery depends on the severity of the case and how far along the pregnancy is. Many milder cases of preeclampsia can be delivered at full term, and the majority of women diagnosed with preeclampsia have healthy babies and fully recover after delivery.
Some cases of preeclampsia require premature delivery. If you have preeclampsia without severe features and your condition is stable, your care team may recommend delivery at week 37 of pregnancy. Until then, you’ll have more frequent visits, your blood pressure and organ function will be monitored closely, and you may be asked to track your blood pressure and your baby’s activity at home. It’s also possible that preeclampsia may not be diagnosed until after 37 weeks – if this is the case, delivery may be recommended at the time of diagnosis.
If you have preeclampsia with severe features, you’ll likely be asked to stay at the hospital for even closer monitoring. You may be given blood pressure medication, anti-seizure medication and corticosteroids to speed up your baby’s lung development. In these cases, delivery is generally recommended around week 34 of pregnancy if your condition is stable.
Talk to your doctor if you’re at risk of preeclampsia, and go to a hospital if you have symptoms
The more information your care team has, the better they can care for you during your pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning to get pregnant and have known risk factors for preeclampsia, it’s important to talk with your care team about them. Early management and consistent prenatal care can help ensure that you and your baby stay safe and healthy throughout your pregnancy.
Note: If you’re pregnant and noticing sudden or severe symptoms that could indicate preeclampsia, call your doctor immediately or go to a hospital.