Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is high blood pressure and signs of liver or kidney damage that occur in women after the 20th week of pregnancy. While it is rare, preeclampsia also may occur in a woman after delivering her baby, most often within 48 hours. This is called postpartum preeclampsia.
High blood pressure
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force exerted against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood to your body. Hypertension is the ...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticlePreeclampsia - Animation
Hypertension caused by preeclampsia can adversely affect the fetus by causing constriction of the placental arteries. Arterial constriction may result in severe reduction in the blood flow to areas of the placenta. If the blood flow remains constricted, areas of the placenta may die, putting the baby in distress.
Causes
The exact cause of preeclampsia is unknown. It occurs in 3% to 7% of all pregnancies. The condition is thought to start in the placenta. Factors that may lead to preeclampsia developing include:
- Autoimmune disorders such as lupus
Autoimmune disorders
An autoimmune disorder occurs when the body's immune system attacks and destroys healthy body tissue by mistake. There are more than 80 autoimmune d...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Blood vessel problems
- Your diet
- Your genes
Risk factors for the condition include:
- First pregnancy
- Past history of preeclampsia
- Past history of a growth-impaired baby
- Multiple pregnancy (twins or more)
- Family history of preeclampsia
- Obesity
- Being older than age 35
- Being African American
- Being pregnant more than 10 years after a previous pregnancy
- History of diabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney disease
Diabetes
Diabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - History of thyroid disease
- IVF pregnancy, especially after a frozen embryo transfer
Symptoms
Often, women who have preeclampsia do not feel sick.
Symptoms of preeclampsia can include:
- Swelling of the hands and face or areas around the eyes (periorbital edema)
Edema
Swelling is the enlargement of organs, skin, or other body parts. It is caused by a buildup of fluid in the tissues. The extra fluid can lead to a ...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Sudden weight gain over 1 to 2 days or more than 2 pounds (0.9 kg) a week
Note: Some swelling of the feet and ankles is considered normal during pregnancy.
Symptoms of severe preeclampsia include:
- Headache that does not go away or becomes worse.
- Trouble breathing.
- Belly pain on the right side, below the ribs. Pain may also be felt in the right shoulder, and can be confused with heartburn, gallbladder pain, a stomach virus, or kicking by the baby.
Heartburn
Heartburn is a painful burning feeling just below or behind the breastbone. Most of the time, it comes from the esophagus. The pain often rises in ...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Urinating less often than usual.
- Nausea and vomiting (a worrisome sign).
- Vision changes, including temporary blindness, seeing flashing lights or spots, sensitivity to light, and blurry vision.
- Feeling lightheaded or faint.
Exams and Tests
The health care provider will do a physical exam. This may show:
- High blood pressure, often 140/90 mm Hg or higher
- Swelling in the hands and face
- Weight gain
Blood and urine tests will be done. This may show:
- Protein in the urine (proteinuria)
- Higher-than-normal liver enzymes
- Platelet count that is low
- Higher-than-normal creatinine levels in your blood (kidney function test)
- Elevated uric acid levels in your blood
Tests will also be done to:
- See how well your blood clots
- Monitor the baby's health
The results of a pregnancy ultrasound, non-stress test, and other tests will help your provider decide whether your baby needs to be delivered right away.
Pregnancy ultrasound
A pregnancy ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to create a picture of how a baby is developing in the womb (uterus). It is also use...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleNon-stress test
While you are pregnant, your health care provider may do tests to check your baby's health. The tests may be done at any time while you are pregnant...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleWomen who had low blood pressure at the start of their pregnancy, followed by a significant rise in blood pressure need to be watched closely for other signs of preeclampsia.
Treatment
Preeclampsia usually resolves within 6 weeks after the baby is born and the placenta is delivered. However, it may persist longer or even begin after delivery.
Most often, at 37 weeks, your baby is developed enough to be healthy outside of the womb.
As a result, your provider will likely want your baby to be delivered so the preeclampsia does not get worse. You may get medicines to help trigger labor, or you may need a C-section.
Medicines to help trigger labor
Inducing labor refers to different treatments used to start your labor. Treatments can also be used to augment your labor, which means to move it at...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleC-section
A C-section is the delivery of a baby by making an opening in the mother's lower belly area. It is also called a cesarean delivery.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleIf your baby is not fully developed and you have mild preeclampsia, the disease can often be managed at home until your baby has matured. The provider will recommend:
Be managed at home
Pregnant women with preeclampsia have high blood pressure and signs of liver or kidney damage. Kidney damage results in the presence of protein in t...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article- Frequent provider visits to make sure you and your baby are doing well.
- Medicines to lower your blood pressure (sometimes).
- The severity of preeclampsia may change quickly, so you'll need very careful follow-up.
Complete bed rest is no longer recommended.
Sometimes, a pregnant woman with preeclampsia is admitted to the hospital. This allows the health care team to monitor the baby and mother more closely.
Treatment in the hospital may include:
- Close monitoring of the mother and baby
- Medicines to control blood pressure and prevent seizures and other complications
- Steroid injections for pregnancies under 34 weeks gestation to help speed up the development of the baby's lungs
You and your provider will continue to discuss the safest time to deliver your baby, considering:
- How close you are to your due date.
- The severity of the preeclampsia. Severe preeclampsia is diagnosed by the level of blood pressure elevation as well as abnormal blood test results as discussed below.
- How well the baby is doing in the womb.
The baby must be delivered if there are signs of severe preeclampsia. These include:
- Tests that show your baby is not growing well or is not getting enough blood and oxygen.
- The bottom number of your blood pressure (diastolic blood pressure) is over 110 mm Hg or is greater than 100 mm Hg consistently over a 24-hour period.
- Abnormal liver function test results.
Liver function test
Liver function tests are common tests that are used to see how well the liver is working. Tests include:AlbuminAlpha-1 antitrypsinAlkaline phosphata...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Severe headaches.
- Pain in the belly area (abdomen).
- Seizures or changes in mental function (eclampsia).
Eclampsia
Eclampsia is the new onset of seizures or coma in a pregnant woman with preeclampsia. These seizures are not related to an existing brain condition....
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Fluid buildup in the mother's lungs.
Fluid buildup in the mother's lungs
Pulmonary edema is an abnormal buildup of fluid in the lungs. This buildup of fluid leads to shortness of breath.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - HELLP syndrome (rare).
HELLP syndrome
HELLP syndrome is a group of symptoms that occur in pregnant women who have:H: hemolysis (the breakdown of red blood cells)EL: elevated liver enzymes...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Low platelet count or bleeding.
- Low urine output, a lot of protein in the urine, and other signs that your kidneys are not working properly.
Outlook (Prognosis)
Signs and symptoms of preeclampsia most often go away within 6 weeks after delivery. However, the high blood pressure sometimes gets worse the first few days after delivery. You are still at risk for preeclampsia for up to 6 weeks after delivery. This postpartum preeclampsia carries a higher risk of death. If you notice any symptoms of preeclampsia, contact your provider right away.
If you have had preeclampsia, you are more likely to develop it again during another pregnancy. In most cases, it is not as severe as the first time.
If you have high blood pressure during more than one pregnancy, you are more likely to have high blood pressure when you get older.
Possible Complications
Rare but severe immediate complications for the mother can include:
- Bleeding problems
- Seizure (eclampsia)
- Fetal growth retardation
- Premature separation of the placenta from the uterus before the baby is born (abruption of the placenta)
- Rupture of the liver
- Stroke
Stroke
A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack. " If blood flow is cut off for longer th...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Death (rarely)
Having a history of preeclampsia makes a woman a higher risk for future problems such as:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Kidney disease
- Chronic high blood pressure
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your provider if you have symptoms of preeclampsia during your pregnancy or after delivery.
Prevention
There is no sure way to prevent preeclampsia.
- If your provider thinks you are at high risk of developing preeclampsia, they may suggest that you start baby aspirin (81 mg) daily late in the first trimester or early in the second trimester of your pregnancy. However, DO NOT start baby aspirin unless you have consulted with your doctor first.
- If your provider thinks your calcium intake is low, they may suggest that you take a calcium supplement daily.
- There are no other specific preventive measures for preeclampsia.
It is important for all pregnant women to start prenatal care early and continue it through the pregnancy and after delivery.
Reviewed By
John D. Jacobson, MD, Professor Emeritus, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Task Force on Hypertension in Pregnancy. Hypertension in pregnancy. Report of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' Task Force on Hypertension in Pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 2013;122(5):1122-1131. PMID: 24150027 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24150027/.
Harper LM, Tita A, Karumanchi SA. Pregnancy-related hypertension. In: Lockwood CJ, Copel JA, Dugoff L, et al, eds. Creasy and Resnik's Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Principles and Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 45.
Sibai BM. Preeclampsia and hypertensive disorders. Landon MB, Galan HL, Jauniaux ERM, et al, eds. Gabbe's Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 38.