Signs And Causes Of Preeclampsia

High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure during pregnancy, also known as hypertension, is the biggest indicator that a pregnant woman may have preeclampsia. Expecting moms should know that high blood pressure can develop slowly, or it may suddenly occur without prior symptoms. Mothers are expected to monitor their blood pressure as an essential part of prenatal care and if they are at risk for developing Preeclampsia. Blood pressure that exceeds 140/90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) that is observed on two separate occasions, four hours apart is highly abnormal and could be a clear sign of Preeclampsia. If at risk, or simply just worried, expecting mothers should consult their doctor and have their blood pressure checked frequently.

Keep reading to discover the risk factors associated with Preeclampsia.

Risk Factors

Preeclampsia develops as a complication associated with pregnancy. Some of the risk factors that expecting mothers should be aware of include a personal or family history of the condition, chronic hypertension, age factors such as very young expecting mothers and women older than forty, obesity, and a history of certain conditions such as chronic blood pressure, migraines, type 1 and 2 diabetes, kidney disease, and lupus. Risks directly related to pregnancy include a new paternity or a new pregnancy with a different partner, a multiple pregnancy that includes twins, triplets, and multiples, an interval between pregnancies such as having babies less than two years apart of more than ten years apart, and in vitro fertilization. The risk of developing preeclampsia is also at its highest during a woman’s first pregnancy as well.

Continue reading to find out the surprising causes of Preeclampsia in some women.