Preeclampsia

What preeclampsia is

Preeclampsia is a serious blood-pressure condition of pregnancy: new high blood pressure (a reading at or above 140/90) that appears after about 20 weeks, along with signs that organs like the kidneys or liver are under strain. One common sign is protein in the urine, but preeclampsia can be diagnosed even without it, so your provider also watches your labs and how you're feeling. Early on, the blood vessels that supply the placenta don't form quite as they should, and that change affects your blood pressure and how well some organs work. It can also appear after delivery (postpartum preeclampsia). The reassuring part: the blood-pressure cuff and urine check at every prenatal visit exist precisely to catch this early, and with monitoring most people go on to have healthy babies.

Signs, causes, and who's at higher risk

The signs that matter most are a severe or persistent headache that doesn't ease with rest, vision changes (blurriness, flashing lights, spots), pain in the upper-right belly or below the ribs, sudden swelling of the face and hands, a rapid jump in weight over a few days, and new shortness of breath. Many people feel completely fine, which is why your numbers can matter more than your symptoms; mild swelling of the feet and ankles is normal in pregnancy. The cause is thought to lie in how the placenta develops early on, and it is not caused by anything you did. Risk is higher with a first pregnancy, prior preeclampsia, twins or more, chronic high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, autoimmune conditions like lupus, being over 35, a higher BMI, IVF, or a long gap between pregnancies.

Prevention and treatment

No home remedy, diet, or supplement cures preeclampsia, and bed rest is no longer routinely recommended. The only definitive treatment is delivering the baby and placenta, timed to balance your health against your baby's maturity. Until then, care may include blood-pressure medication, lab work, extra ultrasounds, and sometimes a hospital stay; in severe cases magnesium sulfate may be given to lower the risk of seizures. For prevention in higher-risk pregnancies, providers often recommend low-dose aspirin, ideally started before 16 weeks, a decision to make with your provider. Don't start aspirin or stop a prescribed medication on your own.

When to call your doctor or go to the ER

A reading at or above 160/110 is treated as a hypertensive emergency: go to the ER or call your provider right away, even if you feel fine. A reading at or above 140/90 is a reason to call the same day so it can be rechecked, since diagnosis is usually confirmed on more than one reading. Also seek urgent care for a severe or persistent headache, vision changes, upper-right belly pain, sudden swelling of the face and hands, sudden shortness of breath, or noticeably reduced movement from your baby. These same red flags apply in the first six weeks after delivery. If something feels seriously wrong, trust that instinct and get checked.

The bottom line: preeclampsia is serious, but it's among the most closely watched-for conditions in pregnancy, so it's usually caught early and managed well. Your prenatal visits, blood-pressure checks, and willingness to speak up are a powerful safety net, before and after your baby arrives. You don't have to diagnose yourself or carry this alone: know your red flags, keep your appointments, and call without hesitation when something feels off. This guide is educational and not a substitute for advice from the provider who knows your pregnancy, but with prompt care the vast majority of parents and babies come through preeclampsia safely.