May is national Preeclampsia Awareness Month. A recent survey done by the Preeclampsia Foundation found that while overall awareness of Preeclampsia is high, there is still relatively low awareness of all of the symptoms associated with Preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy remain one of the leading causes of maternal and infant death. Although preeclampsia generally affects women in the 2nd or 3rd trimester of pregnancy, preeclampsia can make its first appearance up to six weeks postpartum. For women with symptoms of preeclampsia, recognizing those symptoms and getting medical help saves lives.
The most common symptoms of preeclampsia are:
- Swelling of the hands and face, especially around the eyes (swelling of the feet is more common in late pregnancy and probably not a sign of preeclampsia)
- Weight gain of more than five pounds in a week
- Headache that won’t go away, even after taking medication for pain relief
- Changes in vision like seeing spots or flashing lights; partial or total loss of eyesight
- Nausea or throwing up, especially suddenly, after mid pregnancy (not the morning sickness that many women experience in early pregnancy)
- Upper right belly pain, sometimes mistaken for indigestion or the flu
- Difficulty breathing, gasping, or panting
- “I just don’t feel right”
It is important to remember that not everyone with these symptoms has preeclampsia, and not everyone with preeclampsia has these noticeable symptoms. Preeclampsia is only diagnosed by healthcare providers by monitoring blood pressure and protein levels in the urine during pregnancy. If you or someone you know has these symptoms during pregnancy, please let your healthcare professional know, so that you (or they) can be evaluated for preeclampsia.
