PreeclampsiaToxemia; Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH); Gestational hypertension; High blood pressure - preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is high blood pressure and signs of liver or kidney damage that occur in women after the 20th week of pregnancy. While 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 Article
The exact cause of preeclampsia is unknown. It occurs in about 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
- Blood vessel problems
- Your diet
- Your genes
Risk factors for the condition include:
- First pregnancy
- Past history of preeclampsia
- Multiple pregnancy (twins or more)
- Family history of preeclampsia
- Being older than age 35
- Being African-American
- History of diabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney disease
Often, women who have preeclampsia do not feel sick.
Symptoms of preeclampsia can include:
- Swelling of the hands and face or eyes (edema)
- 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.
- Not urinating very often.
- Nausea and vomiting (a worrisome sign).
- Vision changes, including temporary blindness, seeing flashing lights or spots, sensitivity to light, and blurry vision.
- Feel lightheaded or faint.
Exams and Tests
The health care provider will do a physical exam. This may show:
- High blood pressure, often higher than 140/90 mm Hg
- 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
Tests will also be done to:
- See how well your blood clots
- Monitor the baby's health
A pregnancy ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to create a picture of how a baby is developing in the womb. It is also used to chec...Read Article Now Book Mark Article
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 Article
Women 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.
Preeclampsia often resolves after the baby is born and the placenta is delivered. However, it may persist or even begin after delivery.
Most often, at 37 weeks, your baby is developed enough to be healthy outside of the womb.
Medicines to help trigger labor
Inducing labor refers to different treatments used to either start or move your labor at a faster pace. The goal is to bring on contractions or to m...Read Article Now Book Mark Article
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 Article
If 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 doctor 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 watch 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. Preeclampsia has many severe complications that can harm the mother.
- 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 is over 110 mm Hg or is greater than 100 mm Hg consistently over a 24-hour period.
- Abnormal liver function test results.
- Severe headaches.
- Pain in the belly area (abdomen).
- Seizures or changes in mental function (eclampsia).
- Fluid buildup in the mother's lungs.
- HELLP syndrome (rare).
- 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.
Sign 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 health care 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.
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
- Rupture of the liver
- Death (rarely)
Having a history of preeclampsia makes a woman a higher risk for future problems such as:
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your provider if you have symptoms of preeclampsia during your pregnancy or after delivery.
There is no sure way to prevent preeclampsia.
- If your doctor 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 doctor 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.
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):1122-31. PMID: 24150027 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24150027.
Markham KB, Funai EF. Pregnancy-related hypertension. In: Creasy RK, Resnik R, Iams JD, Lockwood CJ, Moore TR, Greene MF, eds. Creasy and Resnik's Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Principles and Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 48.
Rosene-Montella K. Common medical problems in pregnancy. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 239.
Sibai BM. Preeclampsia and hypertensive disorders. In: Gabbe SG, Niebyl JR, Simpson JL, et al, eds. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2017:chap 31.
Preeclampsia - illustration
Preeclampsia is the development of swelling, elevated blood pressure, sudden and rapid weight gain and protein in the urine during pregnancy. The exact cause is unknown, but it occurs in approximately 5% of the population.
Review Date: 4/19/2018
Reviewed By: John D. Jacobson, MD, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda Center for Fertility, Loma Linda, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. Editorial update 08/20/2018.