Preeclampsia occurs in up to 3.5% of pregnancies in the United States. Most women with the condition have healthy babies. But without treatment, preeclampsia can lead to complications for you or your baby. What is preeclampsia? Preeclampsia is high blood pressure during pregnancy. Often, women also have protein in their urine, a condition called proteinuria that can point to problems with kidney function. A single high blood pressure reading during pregnancy doesn’t necessarily mean you have preeclampsia. Your doctor will take multiple readings, as well as run blood and urine tests, to diagnose preeclampsia. Though sometimes preeclampsia shows no symptoms, you may experience • Headaches • Nausea or vomiting • Pain in your abdomen, especially directly below your right ribs • Shortness of breath • Vision changes, including blurred vision, sensitivity to light, or temporary vision loss 18 ketteringhealth.org Women’s health Healthy habits can help protect you and your baby WHAT YOU
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