One Mom’s Story: Preeclampsia Doesn’t Always Look Like Preeclampsia

My Story: Numbers Don’t Tell The Whole Story

Four hours later my labs came back with the results: despite the fact that my blood pressure was within normal levels, I had high levels of proteinuria that indicated preeclampsia, a dangerous condition that occurs only in pregnancy.

The nurse looked at me and said, “You’re not leaving without a baby!” Her words didn’t even come as a surprise to me, because deep down, I knew that something was off.

As it would turn out, my migraine was caused by high blood pressure, and they gave me a medication to lower my blood pressure while I waited to be induced. My induction started that morning at 11 AM and I had my son at 5:50 PM. They kept me on blood pressure medication and monitored my blood pressure closely throughout the induction, but after I gave birth, my BP lowered dramatically back to my normal levels without the need for any other medication.

Lessons in Looking Back

While I am, of course, so grateful everything ended well for both me and my baby, my brush with preeclampsia definitely highlighted how important it is for women to advocate for themselves when they know something is wrong during their pregnancies. For instance, I realized that I had actually been experiencing the same symptoms during my first pregnancy. I had been in and out of the ER for weeks with debilitating mi, and had expressed my concerns multiple times to my doctor who diminished them. My blood pressure never indicated an issue, so she did not believe that there was a reason for concern.

After yet another trip to the ER with a migraine, a different doctor made the call to keep me in the hospital for testing at 37 weeks pregnant. They kept me there for a week completing various tests, even though my own doctor said that she believed I could go home. They never once expressed concern about my blood pressure, but concerns arose due to my low platelet count (thrombocytopenia), which I now know can be connected to preeclampsia.

I was never officially informed that I had preeclampsia, but at 38 weeks they began the process of inducing me due to my platelet count continuing to drop. As soon as I gave birth, my blood pressure and platelet count both began to return to normal quickly. I only learned that I had been diagnosed with preeclampsia during my first pregnancy after I became pregnant again years later with my youngest.

What is Preeclampsia?

As the Mayo Clinic explains, preeclampsia is a complication that can occur during pregnancy, usually after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The warning signs of preeclampsia are blood pressure that exceeds 140/90, as well as protein in the urine. Preeclampsia can lead to severe, or in some cases fatal, consequences for both mom and baby if untreated. Delivery of your baby is the only treatment for preeclampsia, but it can be managed during pregnancy.

The symptoms of preeclampsia can include things like swelling, abdominal pain, vision changes (such as seeing spots in your eyes). They may also be different for every person. For instance, the symptoms I personally experienced were:

• Migraines/severe headaches
• Edema (sudden swelling and weight gain)
• Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count)
• Proteinuria (excess protein in your urine)
• Vision problems, specifically light sensitivity

Other symptoms may include:

• Decrease in urine output
• Nausea or vomiting
• Shortness of breath
• Abdominal pain

What Does Preeclampsia Abdominal Pain Feel Like?

Abdominal pain in preeclampsia can be one of the trademark symptoms, but it doesn’t happen for everyone and may be different for everyone as well. However, according to the Preeclampsia Foundation, preeclampsia abdominal pain can feel like:

• Pain under your ribs on the right side
• Shoulder pain on the right side
• Pain when lying on the right side
• “Pinching” where your bra straps would be on the right side
• Neck pain, especially on the right side
• Lower back pain

When Will They Induce for Preeclampsia?

There isn’t one specific time that a doctor would induce someone with preeclampsia. Instead, it depends on how severe the preeclampsia is, as well as the health of both mom and baby. Doctors will try to balance letting the baby develop as long as possible with the risks of letting the pregnancy progress.

When Will They Induce for High Blood Pressure?

Again, this depends on how severe symptoms are and the health of mom and baby.

Because the only real treatment to “cure” preeclampsia is delivering the baby, as soon as it is more dangerous for the pregnancy to continue, doctors may consider inducing. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, severe preeclampsia is anything with a blood pressure at or above 160/110.

My Signs of Preeclampsia at 38 Weeks

As my story shows, preeclampsia can be different for every pregnant person, and symptoms can be more subtle than some doctors or moms even realize. For me, while my blood pressure was slightly elevated, it wasn’t dangerously high.

Instead, my main signs of preeclampsia at 38 weeks were:

• Migraines
• Sensitivity to light 

Here’s the thing though: because my blood pressure never went above 135/88 while they were monitoring me in the hospital, my preeclampsia never quite “looked” like preeclampsia.

I had to advocate for myself to get proper testing both times, as even with my history they didn’t see the signs. It is so important for mamas to advocate for ourselves and our babies, especially when something feels off.

Bottom line, if you experience any symptoms or have any concerns during your own pregnancy, always speak to your own doctor and be an advocate not only for just your health, but the health of your baby too.