
Pregnancy is an unforgettable time for many women eager to experience the miracle of creating, growing, and birthing a brand-new human being. However, it’s not without risk.
While some women have easily manageable pregnancies, many experience symptoms like first-trimester (or longer) morning sickness and fatigue. Issues that might arise later in pregnancy include persistent heartburn, bladder pressure that causes frequent urination, stretch marks, lower back pain, and swelling of the extremities.
Some pregnant women suffer from congestion, constipation, or bleeding gums. A smaller number experience more serious complications, such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia.
Naturally, you want to do all you can to preserve your health, protect your baby in utero, and minimize the risk of birth injuries. The best way to do this is by understanding potential complications. What is preeclampsia, and what should you know to stay safe and respond proactively when symptoms arise?
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What Is Preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia is a condition that occurs during pregnancy, typically after 20 weeks, with most cases occurring in the third trimester (after 27 weeks). In rare cases, women may experience postpartum preeclampsia, with onset in the first few days following childbirth.
This condition is primarily characterized by maternal hypertension (high blood pressure), although other symptoms can develop. It usually subsides after childbirth.
Approximately 5% to 8% of pregnant women in the U.S. experience preeclampsia, and it is the reported cause of about 15% of premature deliveries (those occurring before 37 weeks of pregnancy).
Learn about the symptoms and causes of preeclampsia, along with the treatment options available to expectant mothers.
What Are the Symptoms of Preeclampsia?
The main symptom of preeclampsia is hypertension, characterized by blood pressure readings of over 140 systolic mmHg and 90 diastolic mmHg. Hypertension is measured in three stages: elevated, stage 1 hypertension, and stage 2 hypertension.
The ranges for these stages are as follows:
- Elevated Blood Pressure: 120–129 systolic and 80 or below diastolic
- Stage 1 Hypertension: 130–139 systolic or 80–89 diastolic
- Stage 2 Hypertension: At least 140 systolic or at least 90 diastolic
A blood pressure reading of 120/80 or lower is considered normal. If someone’s systolic pressure exceeds 180 or their diastolic exceeds 120, it is considered a hypertensive crisis requiring immediate medical attention.
Women with preeclampsia also tend to suffer from proteinuria, or high levels of protein in the urine. This means your body is purging proteins that should remain in your blood to build muscle and bone, repair damaged tissue, and help fight infection and regulate fluids.
Before you realize you have preeclampsia, you may experience common symptoms like headaches, blurry vision or dark spots in your vision, edema (swelling) of the face and extremities, shortness of breath, and pain in the upper right side of your abdomen.
What Are the Causes of Preeclampsia?
The cause of preeclampsia remains unknown, but there are several factors thought to contribute to a higher risk of developing it. First, those with a history of conditions like hypertension, kidney disease, or diabetes could be at increased risk.
Autoimmune conditions like lupus, antiphospholipid syndrome, immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), scleroderma, Sjogren’s syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis are also thought to increase risks for preeclampsia. These conditions tend to be characterized by inflammation or the body attacking healthy tissue (except ITP, which is associated with reduced platelets and excessive bleeding).
Women carrying multiples (twins, triplets, etc.) are also considered a higher-risk group for preeclampsia, in addition to other serious complications like gestational diabetes and premature labor. Obesity, a geriatric pregnancy (over 35), a first pregnancy, a family history of preeclampsia, and low birth weight in previous pregnancies could also factor in, albeit to a lesser degree.
How Do You Diagnose and Treat Preeclampsia?
Early diagnosis and treatment of preeclampsia is essential to reducing risks for both mother and fetus. This condition is typically diagnosed by urine, blood pressure, and blood tests, although it may also be confirmed through ultrasound to check amniotic fluid volume and fetal size.
Unfortunately, medication to reduce blood pressure is not usually recommended for preeclampsia due to the risk of maternal hypotension (low blood pressure) and the possibility of reducing blood flow to the placenta and fetus, resulting in adverse fetal outcomes.
The most common course of action is increased monitoring, which could include more frequent doctor visits and taking your blood pressure regularly at home. You could also speak with your doctor about changing your diet, exercise, and sleep habits.
There is only one real cure for preeclampsia: delivery. If the condition presents early in the pregnancy, close monitoring is often the primary treatment. Worsening symptoms could result in a hospital stay for around-the-clock monitoring. If you are diagnosed with severe preeclampsia close to or past 37 weeks, your doctor may recommend inducing labor or scheduling a C-section.
What Happens If Preeclampsia Goes Untreated?
Serious and life-threatening complications can arise if preeclampsia goes untreated. Whether you postpone seeking medical care for your symptoms or you’re the victim of medical malpractice due to misdiagnosis or negligence, both you and your baby could suffer as a result.
How Can Preeclampsia Affect the Mother?
Ongoing or worsening preeclampsia can stress your internal organs, including your heart, brain, liver, kidneys, and lungs. You may suffer liver or kidney damage or fluid buildup in your lungs. Untreated preeclampsia might lead to catastrophic injuries like kidney disease, eclampsia (seizures), stroke, heart disease, impaired brain function, coma, and even death.
How Can Preeclampsia Affect the Fetus?
Some of the most common concerns for fetuses associated with preeclampsia include:
- Reduced blood supply to the fetus
- Slow fetal growth
- Placental abruption
- Preterm birth
- Low birth weight
A variety of birth injuries and long-term health issues have been linked to preeclampsia, sometimes due to preterm birth. These include learning disorders, deafness, blindness, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and stillbirth. In adulthood, children whose mothers had preeclampsia experience increased risks for hypertension, heart failure, and diabetes.
What To Do If Your Preeclampsia Was Missed or Misdiagnosed
Even if you do all you can to manage your health and protect your fetus during pregnancy, including contacting your OB-GYN to discuss your concerns, you may still suffer serious consequences if your preeclampsia symptoms are missed or misdiagnosed by medical professionals.
If you or your baby were harmed because of a healthcare provider’s negligence, contact a qualified attorney as soon as possible. The general statute of limitations to file a claim for medical malpractice in Florida is two years from the date of the event, although some exceptions may apply.
An experienced Miami medical malpractice attorney from Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers can help you understand this deadline and how to move forward with your case. Contact us now to learn more at (305) 937-0191.