For those facing a diagnosis of preeclampsia, what to do once diagnosed and understanding how it will be treated can feel overwhelming and scary. Preeclampsia — which occurs in 1 in 25 pregnancies in the United States — affects some pregnant people after the 20th week of pregnancy and can last through the postpartum period.
Keeping up with regular prenatal appointments and making note of changes you may experience week-by-week, is key to managing this pregnancy complication. Preeclampsia is marked by a combination of high blood pressure and a variety of signs and symptoms as noted below.
How to treat preeclampsia
Postpartum preeclampsia: What to do?
Preeclamptic symptoms of hypertension and proteinuria usually resolve after delivery of the baby. In some instances, however, blood pressure can rise during the first few days after birth. Your doctor will continue to monitor your health because postpartum preeclampsia, which can develop up to six weeks after delivery, remains critical for the mother.
"I noticed the beginnings of extreme swelling in my legs and feet. By the following day, my feet had blown up so big, I couldn’t fit any of my shoes or socks, mom of three Faye McCray wrote on her blog. "Even more concerning, when I pressed into my feet with my fingers, they left deep imprints (I later learned this was pitting edema). The swelling was so bad I could feel my skin stretching.
Typically, postpartum preeclampsia is treated with blood pressure medication. Seizures can occur with preeclampsia, so your doctor may also recommend intravenous magnesium sulfate or benzodiazepines to eliminate seizures.
"I maxed out on two medications before finding the right combination, and was given IV rescue medications twice. At one point, my pressure was being checked every fifteen minutes," McCray recalled. "It was rough but I survived. In the end, I was diagnosed with atypical postpartum preeclampsia. My condition was atypical because I never showed signs in my blood or urine."
If you're experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms of preeclampsia or have vision changes, severe headache, swollen extremeties, stomach pain or shortness of breath, it's important to see a healthcare provider right away.
