What is preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia is a sudden increase in blood pressure and protein in the urine after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Preeclampsia can lead to eclampsia, or seizures, representing serious health consequences for the mother and baby. Symptoms of preeclampsia include the following:

• High blood pressure (≥ 140/90 mmHg)
• Swelling of the face, hands and feet (although it is common for feet swell during pregnancy)
• Weight gain, more than five pounds in a week
• Other problems such as headache, blurred vision, abdominal pain and nausea

It’s better to know your risks before

Your doctor performs tests to detect the risk of early onset preeclampsia, a potentially serious condition that occurs in approximately 0.5% of all pregnancies. It is important to detect the risk of preeclampsia early onset as soon as possible in pregnancy, so if you are at risk, you can take steps to protect your health and the health of your baby.