Pre-eclampsia: Signs To Look Out For

Between 5% and 8% of birth parents experience preeclampsia.

Just like with postpartum hemorrhages, I did not think it could or would happen to me.

I thought that, because I was young and healthy, I would be in the clear.

Please learn from my experience and watch out for the signs:

• High blood pressure (hypertension) - Try keeping a log of your blood pressure readings

• Protein in your urine (proteinuria) - Make sure your doctor tests for this at your visits

• Swelling (edema) - That is worse than typical pregnancy swelling

• Headaches - Dull or severe, that won’t go away

• Nausea or vomiting

• Abdominal (stomach area) and/or shoulder pain - Especially in the upper right quadrant of your stomach area

• Lower back pain - This is also something common in pregnancy, but something that should be taken seriously if it is accompanied by other symptoms

• Sudden weight gain - Such as 3-5 pounds in a week

• Changes in vision - Sensations of flashing lights, auras, light sensitivity, blurry vision, or spots

• Hyperreflexia - When your reflexes are so strong that, when your knee is tapped by a rubber ‘hammer’, your leg bounces back hard

• Shortness of breath/Anxiety

Other than the symptoms that are also present in pregnancy (swelling and lower back pain), the only symptom I had was high blood pressure.

And I only found out because I had an intuitive feeling something was wrong, and asked a coworker to take my blood pressure.

It was not until I was admitted to the hospital that it was discovered I also had proteinuria and hyperreflexia.

Preeclampsia absolutely rocked my body. It took several days in the hospital to get to baseline, and several more weeks for my body to feel healthy again.

While I wish this experience on no one, if someone were to have it, I hope they can catch the signs as soon as possible, and get the care they need.

If you feel you are experiencing symptoms of pre-eclampsia, please reach out to your doctor to get assessed as soon as possible.