Preeclampsia Symptoms
Preeclampsia can be very dangerous because you may not necessarily “feel sick.” Many of the symptoms are silent and are often confused with normal pregnancy changes. It is important to watch for the following warning signs of preeclampsia:
- Headache that won't go away
- Vision changes or seeing spots
- Feeling sick or throwing up
- Pain in your upper right belly
- Swelling, especially in your face or hands
- Rapid weight gain
- Trouble breathing
- Chest pain
- Confusion
- High blood pressure (high blood pressure is an important sign of preeclampsia, but most people cannot feel when it goes up.)
Risk Factors & Prevention
Key risk factors for preeclampsia are:
- Age 35 or older
- BMI over 35
- Preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy
- Family history of preeclampsia
- History of high blood pressure
- Carrying more than one baby
- History of kidney disease
- Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, bleeding disorders and certain autoimmune conditions
- First pregnancy
- Fertility treatments
If you have risk factors for preeclampsia, your care team will monitor you and your baby closely. Most likely you will have your blood pressure taken frequently. You also might need to send a sample of your blood or urine to the lab for testing. You may start taking a low-dose aspirin to prevent preeclampsia. Your care team also may use ultrasound to closely monitor the baby during the pregnancy.
How is Preeclampsia Treated?
Treatments for preeclampsia aim to prevent pregnancy complications and help you deliver your baby at term. Depending on the severity, your preeclampsia treatment may include:
- Frequent blood pressure checks and blood or urine tests
- Medications to treat high blood pressure and prevent seizures
- Hospitalization for close monitoring of you and your baby
- Early delivery of your baby
- Close follow up during your postpartum period
Wearing a Blue Band
The Blue Band Initiative is CentraCare’s effort to alert health care providers about your risk for preeclampsia. If you’re at risk, wearing our blue medical wristband during pregnancy and after delivery will help keep you and your baby safe.
Follow these guidelines:
- Wear your blue band until your care team takes it off or tells you to.
- Take your prescribed medications as directed.
- Follow all instructions given to you at your discharge from the hospital.
- Monitor for warning signs of preeclampsia during your pregnancy and continue to watch for the warning signs even after you have delivered your baby.
- Keep all your prenatal appointments
- Attend your first follow-up appointment after delivery 2–5 days after discharge from the hospital.
- Keep your future follow-up appointments with your health care team, even if you feel well.
I had friends and family in New York who died of preeclampsia. I thought ‘this can't be happening to us, please God, please God, don't make this happen.' I knew every moment could be life or death.
— Eunice Adjei-Gyimah
Read Eunice's Story
Long-Term Risks After Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia can seriously harm your health now and in the future. It raises your risk of heart problems and high blood pressure. If you've had it before, you're more likely to get it in future pregnancies. Knowing this helps you and your doctors plan for your long-term health.
Additional Resources
Preeclampsia resources for providers:
Preeclampsia resources for patients:
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