Preeclampsia: What You Need To Know & Ask
Preeclampsia is a condition that usually develops after approximately 20 weeks of pregnancy and is often defined by the following major symptoms: unprecedented high blood pressure and protein in urine. Awareness of this condition is important as it is seen in about 1 out of 25 pregnancies and can be serious if left untreated.
Although preeclampsia is largely characterized by the two aforementioned symptoms, there are several other symptoms that may be associated with it such as persistent headaches, abnormal vision, upper abdominal pain, unnatural swelling, sudden weight gain, shortness of breath, and nausea and vomiting.
The only absolute treatment for preeclampsia is delivery and depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy, this may be appropriate. If delivery is not an option, your doctor will keep a close monitor of your pregnancy, may initiate medical treatment and possibly prepare for an early delivery.