PREECLAMPSIA: KNOW THE SIGNS

Preeclampsia is serious and is definitely something that you and your care team should know about before becoming pregnant so you can keep an eye out for the signs. If you or a pregnant person you know experience something from the list below, make sure to let a medical provider know immediately.

• severe headache

• swelling in the hands and face

• visual issues including double vision, seeing floaters, poor peripheral vision

• sudden onset nausea and/or vomiting

• intense stomach or abdomen pain

• sudden weight gain

• a new shortness of breath

PREECLAMPSIA CAN OCCUR IN ANY PREGNANCY,

SO EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW THESE SIGNS!

This condition is most often characterized by a rapid rise in blood pressure that can lead to:

• seizure

• stroke

• multiple organ failure… and in the most severe of cases, the death of the mother and/or baby.

Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and infant illness and death in the United States and spoiler alert! Black women experience severe maternal morbidity from a condition like this at a rate 2.1 times greater than white women.

The two short videos below give more info about preeclampsia signs and what might be done to help prevent a pregnant person from having it. If anything in this post or the videos strikes a chord with you, please let your prenatal care team know as soon as possible. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.