Preeclampsia during Pregnancy

One problem related to pregnancy is preeclampsia. If you have preeclampsia, you may experience high blood pressure, proteinuria, high levels of protein in the urine that indicate kidney disease or other signs of organ damage. Preeclampsia usually develops in pregnant women whose blood pressure is in the normal range after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy specific disorder that exacerbates up to 8% of births globally. About 15% of preterm births (delivery before 37 weeks of pregnancy) occur in the United States as a result of it.

Symptoms

Preeclampsia is characterized by elevated blood pressure, proteinuria, or other indications of kidney or organ damage. You might not be exhibiting any symptoms at all. Regular prenatal visits with a healthcare practitioner are often the first indicator of preeclampsia.

Symptoms of preeclampsia can vary, but some typical symptoms may include:

• Severe Headaches (an intractable headache) Concern should be expressed if you get dull or severe, throbbing headaches that won’t go away and are frequently compared to migraines.
• Change in Vision Changes in vision are among the most serious signs of preeclampsia. It’s possible that they irritate the central nervous system.
• Auras, light sensitivity, spots or blurriness in vision, and flashing lights are common vision changes. (light sensitivity, blurred vision, including temporary loss of vision or having changes in eyesight)
• High Blood Pressure One of the major indicators that preeclampsia may be developing during pregnancy is high blood pressure. Furthermore, it may indicate a concern even in cases when it is not a symptom of preeclampsia.

Traditionally, blood pressure of 140/90 or above, measured twice, at least four hours apart, is considered high blood pressure. An increase of 15 degrees or more in the lower number (diastolic) or 30 degrees or more in the upper number (systolic) during pregnancy may also be reason for worry.

• Edema (swelling) It’s common to have some edema throughout pregnancy. You could feel a little bit of additional puffiness in your feet (good luck squeezing into your pre-pregnancy shoes!), unless you’re one of the fortunate few. Conversely, edema, or the buildup of extra fluid, can be dangerous if it develops in your hands, face, or around your eyes.
• Proteinuria (protein in your urine) Another indication of preeclampsia is proteinuria, which is the production of urine containing proteins that your kidneys’ filtering function typically keeps in the blood.
• Abdominal Pain This kind of stomach pain is often felt under the right side of the ribcage and is sometimes referred to as epigastric pain or upper right quadrant (URQ) pain. Heartburn, gallbladder issues, the illness, indigestion, or pain from the baby kicking can all be mistaken for it. Since shoulder discomfort originates from the liver behind the right ribcage, it is sometimes referred to as “referred pain.” Since lower back discomfort is typically more intense and particular, it differs from the normal muscular strain experienced during pregnancy. Lying on your right side can hurt if you have shoulder ache, which might also feel like someone is tightly pressing you along the bra strap or on your neck.
• Nausea or Vomiting When nausea or vomiting occurs suddenly and after mid-pregnancy, it is very important. “Morning sickness” should go away after the first trimester, and preeclampsia may be the cause of acute nausea and vomiting after the middle of pregnancy.
• Breathing Difficulty Preeclampsia symptoms might include shortness of breath, a racing heartbeat, mental disorientation, elevated anxiety, and a sense of impending doom. If you are experiencing these symptoms for the first time, they may be a sign of high blood pressure or, less frequently, fluid accumulating in your lungs (pulmonary edema).