What You Need to Know About Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a serious health problem that can happen during pregnancy. Without treatment, preeclampsia can lead to other illnesses and even death for you as well as your baby. Every year, about 46,000 women and 500,000 babies die as a result of preeclampsia (source). But, when its discovered early, your healthcare provider can help treat it. It is important to know the signs of preeclampsia and talk to your healthcare provider if you experience any signs so you can avoid dangerous complications.

What Is Preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia happens when your blood pressure gets too high. It can be dangerous for both you and your baby if it’s not found early and treated by a healthcare provider. Preeclampsia usually starts during the second or third trimester, usually after 20 weeks. It can also happen after the baby is born.

Who is at Risk of Preeclampsia?

Anyone who is pregnant can get preeclampsia. But there are some things that can increase your risk.  

You are most at-risk if:

• You have had preeclampsia before.
• You have (or have in the past) high blood pressure, diabetes, or kidney problems.
• You are pregnant with twins, triplets, or more.
• You have two or more of the moderate risk factors listed below.

You are at moderate risk if:

• You have not been pregnant for the past 10 years.
• You are 35 years old or older.
• You are overweight.
• You have had problems in past pregnancies; for instance, if you have had a baby that was low birth weight (less than 5.5 pounds or 2500 grams).
• You have a family member—such as a mother, grandmother, sister, or aunt—who has had preeclampsia before.
• You used IVF (in vitro fertilization) to get pregnant.

If you are Black, Indigenous, or live in a low-income community, you may also be at risk. This is not because of a medical issue. These groups are more likely to experience long-term stress and work with healthcare providers who (on purpose or without knowing) do not provide the same level of care that they would for White and wealthier clients. Also, these groups are often less likely to have the money and time needed to get regular medical care.  

It is important to talk to your healthcare provider about your medical history and your family medical history, if you have such information. This will help your healthcare provider give you specific advice based on your personal level of risk.    

What are the Warning Signs of Preeclampsia?

It can be hard to know if you have preeclampsia. Sometimes, high blood pressure is the only sign. This is why checking your blood pressure often and seeing your healthcare provider for check-ups are so important. You should also watch for the following warning signs:

• Bad headaches that last for more than a day
• Vision problems, for example, if everything looks blurry or if you are seeing spots
• Trouble breathing or breathing really fast
• Stomach or shoulder pain
• Vomiting or feeling sick to your stomach, often called morning sickness
• Swelling in your face, hands, or feet
• Sudden weight gain

What Should You Do if You Experience Warning Signs?

If any of these happen to you, call your healthcare provider. Do not wait for your next appointment. Seeing your healthcare provider right away and getting treatment early can help keep you and your baby safe. When you see your healthcare provider, they may take your blood pressure and test your blood and urine to see if you have preeclampsia or another health issue.

The Dangers of Missing Symptoms of Preeclampsia: Example Studies

Knowing the signs of preeclampsia early can prevent complications. Let’s explore how ignoring warning signs can be dangerous.

Lucy's Headaches and Stomach Pains

Story: Lucy was 36 weeks pregnant when she started having painful headaches. Also, she still had the morning sickness that started in her first trimester. Since she was used to the morning sickness by this time, and since she often had headaches before she got pregnant, Lucy thought everything was normal. After a week with a headache that would not go away, she began to see spots so she called her doctor,  told her to come to the clinic as soon as possible. The doctor ran a few tests and then told Lucy she had preeclampsia and would need to stay in the hospital and possibly her baby early.

Lesson: Bad headaches and feeling sick to your stomach are both symptoms of preeclampsia.  Because preeclampsia can quickly lead to serious complications, it is important to call your healthcare provider as soon as you have these problems. Do not wait—getting help quickly can keep you and your baby safe.

Sofia's Sudden Weight Gain and Swelling

Case: Sofia was 30 weeks pregnant when she seemed to suddenly gain 10 pounds. She had only gained a couple of pounds in her first trimester and a dozen more in her second trimester, so she was surprised when this happened. Her feet were also swollen now, but she thought everything was normal until her hands started swelling. When Sofia saw her doctor, tests showed she had preeclampsia. Her doctor said she would need to follow a special diet, check her blood pressure every day, and come back for weekly checkups to make sure it did not get worse.

Lesson: Some swelling and weight gain during pregnancy is normal. But it usually happens slowly, not all of a sudden. Keeping track of your weight gain and looking out for swelling are important as these are signs of preeclampsia. If you gain weight suddenly or if your hands and feet swell, call your healthcare provider. You may need to change your diet or make other changes in order to stay healthy and keep your baby healthy.

What Can Happen if Preeclampsia is Not Treated?

Most of the time, preeclampsia is mild. But, if it is not treated, preeclampsia can lead to serious problems, including:

Seizures or coma: Preeclampsia can lead to eclampsia, which involves seizures and in some cases coma. If this happens to you, your doctor might need to deliver your baby early to save you both.

Organ damage: Preeclampsia can damage your kidneys and liver and it can lead to heart problems or stroke.

HELLP syndrome: HELLP (hemolysis elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count) syndrome is a rare but serious problem that can cause your organs to stop working and can cause heavy bleeding.

Placental problems: Preeclampsia can cause problems with the placenta, the organ that feeds your baby while it’s in your womb. It can cause the placenta to detach from the wall of your womb, causing you to bleed heavily. Preeclampsia can also prevent the placenta from getting the blood it needs to give your baby food and oxygen, which can prevent your baby from growing the way it should.  

Preterm birth: Preeclampsia can lead to preterm births—births that happen before the 37^th week of pregnancy. This can happen unexpectedly or a doctor can suggest that you deliver early to keep you and your baby safe. Preterm babies need special treatment to stay healthy and often need to stay in the hospital longer than babies born after 37 weeks.

Long-term health problems: Preeclampsia can also cause problems for you and your baby after delivery. You may be at risk of long-term high blood pressure, heart disease, or stroke and your baby may have problems growing for many years.  

Is Preeclampsia Preventable?

There is no way to completely prevent preeclampsia, but there are ways to lower your risk.  

• Understand the risk factors listed above and talk to your healthcare provider about any risk factors that you have.
• Check your blood pressure every day and watch for the warning signs listed above. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any warning signs.
• Do not miss your prenatal appointments—these give your doctor the chance to provide important tests to keep you healthy.
• Talk to your healthcare provider how you can stay healthy throughout your pregnancy, including by eating well, exercising regularly, and taking any medication that can help.

How Can BobiHealth Help?

BobiHealth is an app that can help you keep track of your health at home during your pregnancy. Other pregnancy apps only track kick counts and weight gain. With BobiHealth, you can track kick counts and weight gain, but you can also track other key health information that can help you spot the signs of preeclampsia (and other health problems early), such as:  

Blood pressure: High blood pressure during pregnancy is the first sign of preeclampsia.

Blood oxygen levels: Blood oxygen levels show how much oxygen is in your blood—and your body needs a certain amount of oxygen in your blood to function. Low blood oxygen is a sign that something is wrong, and that could mean preeclampsia.

Breath Rate: If you have trouble breathing—either you are breathing too fast or not feeling like you can breathe normally—you may have preeclampsia.

Other symptoms: Headaches, stomach pains, and swelling are all possible signs of preeclampsia.

The app will remind you to track these health signs and symptoms every day. If you have a smartwatch, you can connect it to the app to make tracking even easier. If the app finds that something does not look right, it will alert you to call your healthcare provider so you can get the care you need. And, you can share information from the app with your doctor so that they can better understand what you are experiencing.  

This information is important for all pregnant people. It is especially helpful for those who may not be able to see their healthcare provider easily. For example, if you do not live close to your healthcare provider or if it is difficult for you to take time away from work or to find transportation, BobiHealth can help you stay on top of your symptoms at home and give you peace of mind throughout your pregnancy journey.  

Take Care of Yourself and Your Baby Today

Preeclampsia is serious—but you can keep yourself and your baby safe and healthy. Know your risk, watch for warning signs, and talk to your healthcare provider about any and all concerns you have. Download the BobiHealth App now and start tracking your health today. BobiHealth helps you stay informed so you can protect yourself and your baby throughout your pregnancy journey.

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Useful Terms

Here are definitions of a few terms we will use in this blog. It may be helpful to read these definitions so you know what they mean if your healthcare provider uses these words with you.  

Coma: A coma is a medical emergency that happens when a person loses consciousness and does not respond when someone tries to wake them.

Diabetes: Diabetes is a health problem that occurs when your body does not process sugar the right way. When your body doesn’t process sugar correctly, the sugar can stay in your blood and make you sick.

Eclampsia: Eclampsia is a complication of preeclampsia that involves seizures and it can lead to a person losing consciousness (becoming comatose).

High blood pressure: High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, happens when your blood pushes too hard against the walls of your blood vessels.  

In vitro fertilization (IVF): IVF, or in vitro fertilization, is a procedure that involves a healthcare provider combining an egg and sperm in a lab to create an embryo, or fertilized egg, and then placing the embryo back in the womb to grow.  

Preeclampsia: Preeclampsia is a health problem that can happen during pregnancy. Preeclampsia happens when your blood pressure is too high and can lead to dangerous complications.  

Prenatal: The word prenatal, also called antenatal, is used to define the time when a person is pregnant, before they give birth.

Preterm birth: A preterm birth is a birth that takes place earlier than it should, usually before the 37^th week of pregnancy.  

Stroke: A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when the blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked or bursts, damaging the brain tissue.  

Trimester: The word trimester, which means three months, is used to divide a pregnancy into three parts: first trimester, second trimester, third trimester.

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