Preeclampsia

This is also a blood pressure disorder of pregnancy that is diagnosed by two blood pressures taken at least four hours apart that are ≥ 140/90 and evidence of protein in your urine. You must be 20 weeks’ gestation or more in order to be diagnosed with this disorder, and your physician will order more labs to determine if there is any associated organ damage or blood problems occurring because of how the disease progresses. Depending on the severity of the disease and when it is diagnosed, you may require blood pressure medications and/or IV magnesium sulfate that helps prevent seizures from occurring. The goal will also be delivery at 37 weeks’ gestation unless the disease progresses and warrants earlier delivery for safety of baby and mom. It you have “severe features,” you will be delivered no later than 34 weeks’ gestation.