Preeclampsia signs and symptoms are a serious pregnancy-related condition characterized by high blood pressure. Putting off a diagnosis can cause problems for the mother and child.
Preeclampsia can develop at any point during pregnancy, but it is most common in the middle of the second trimester. Most pregnant women with preeclampsia can have a normal pregnancy and give birth without complications.
Preeclampsia Signs and symptoms
Most of the time, there are no signs that can indicate you have preeclampsia. This can happen unexpectedly. One of the most important signs is an increase in blood pressure. Understand the risks of hypertension during pregnancy. However, high blood pressure may not always mean you have preeclampsia. Here are other signs that can be accompanied by high blood pressure in pregnancy.
- Presence of protein in the urine.
- Sudden swelling of the face, hands, and feet
- Changes in normal vision. You may see blurry or double images.
- Pain in the upper belly
- Persistent, painful headaches that don’t seem to go away even after using over-the-counter medicine.
- Increased heartbeat
- Difficulty breathing
- Producing less amount of urine or having difficulty in urinating
- Severe nausea
- A sudden increase in weight, which is not due to food habits
Most of these symptoms are common in pregnancy and may not indicate the presence of preeclampsia. Your doctor can rule this out during your scheduled visits. That is why it is essential not to miss your regular prenatal visits. Every time you visit, your doctor will check your blood pressure and look for protein in your urine sample. Uncontrolled preeclampsia can lead to fatal conditions for both you and the baby.
Treatment
It is simpler to treat this condition if it develops early in pregnancy. Preeclampsia usually goes away soon after delivery. Your doctor might induce labor if you are nearing your expected due date or are 37 weeks along. This is because preeclampsia raises the possibility of having seizures, blood clots, placental abruption, and other dangerous pregnancy complications. There is a chance that you have a cesarean. Preeclampsia is treated with other drugs.
- The most important consideration when treating this condition is lowering your blood pressure. If it is exceptionally high, your doctor may prescribe antihypertensive to decrease the BP. Some of these medications can also have side effects, and you may discuss them with your healthcare provider.
- Sometimes, you need bed rest and some peace to help lower your blood pressure. This may not be effective in all cases, but it may benefit those women who feel stressed out.
- Depending on your symptoms, you may require hos
- If you have severe preeclampsia and there is still time for your due date, you may be prescribed certain medications to prolong your pregnancy. These may also help improve the condition of your baby’s lungs to be prepared for preterm delivery.
