If you are diagnosed with mild preeclampsia your GP (doctor) will advise you as to how often you need to have antenatal check-ups.

fetal growth restriction – determined by fetal ultrasound.onset of headaches or visual disturbances.blood clotting abnormalities – determined by a blood test for platelet count.kidney function abnormalities – determined by a blood test for kidney function.

liver function abnormalities – determined by a blood test for liver function.swelling and fluid in the feet hands and face.protein in the urine – determined by analysis of a urine sample.Preeclampsia is diagnosed when high blood pressure (140/90 mm Hg or higher) occurs together with one or more of the following after 20 weeks pregnancy:

This is why regular antenatal blood pressure checks are vital to detecting and diagnosing preeclampsia. Some symptoms of preeclampsia, such as fluid retention, are also typical of normal pregnancy, so women may dismiss the early warning signs. This growth restriction threatens the life of the baby and it is then necessary for the baby to be born early, even prematurely.Īnother serious complication of preeclampsia is placental abruption, where the placenta separates from the uterine wall and the woman experiences vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain. In severe cases, the baby can be gradually starved of oxygen and nutrients, which may affect growth. If the mother has preeclampsia, high blood pressure can slow down the amount of oxygen and nutrients that are able to get through to the baby. It is the placenta that provides the baby with oxygen and nutrients from the mother’s blood and gets rid of waste products (such as carbon dioxide) by passing them back to the mother’s blood. In the womb, the baby is attached to a special organ of pregnancy called the placenta. If left untreated, preeclampsia can lead to serious problems such as:Įffects of preeclampsia on the unborn babyĪround 5 to 8 per cent of pre-term deliveries in Australia are due to preeclampsia or its associated complications. visual disturbances, such as flashing lights.Some of the advanced symptoms of preeclampsia include: However, sudden swelling of the face, hands and feet can be a sign of preeclampsia. Oedema is a common pregnancy symptom, usually causing swelling of the feet and ankles. Over time, you may also develop fluid retention (oedema). a sudden rise in blood pressure (above levels at the start of pregnancy).That’s why regular antenatal checks of your blood pressure are so important. Preeclampsia initially has no obvious symptoms and most women with the condition feel well. are pregnant with more than one baby in the womb.It is difficult to predict who will be affected, but certain women appear to be more at risk than others, including women who: If left untreated, preeclampsia can lead to serious problems such as: fitting or convulsions, kidney failure, liver failure, clotting problems or death.Īll forms of preeclampsia need to be treated. However, preeclampsia can become very serious.Īt its most serious, blood pressure can be very high and other body organs are affected such as the kidneys, liver, brain and blood (in particular, the blood clotting system). In its mildest form, protein will show in a urine test and blood pressure may be only slightly raised. The seriousness of the disease is decided by the level of the blood pressure. Preeclampsia most commonly causes high blood pressure and protein in the urine. Preeclampsia may develop at any time during the second half of pregnancy, but commonly develops during the later stages of pregnancy. The woman's blood pressure usually returns to normal after the baby is born and the placenta is delivered. Preeclampsia tends to be more common in first, rather than subsequent, pregnancies. The causes of this condition are not fully understood, but genetic factors and the placenta seem to play significant roles. 1 to 2 per cent of cases are severe enough to threaten the lives of both the mother and her unborn child. It is the most common serious medical complication of pregnancy, affecting around 5 to 8 per cent of all pregnancies in Australia. Preeclampsia is a disorder of pregnancy characterised by high maternal blood pressure, and protein in the urine.

Dizziness in pregnancy