Many women with mild to moderate pre-eclampsia during pregnancy feel remarkably well. It is not until they have their routine pregnancy visit with their caregiver that their high blood pressure is detected. This is one of the main reasons routine pregnancy visits become more frequent during the last three months of the pregnancy.
The signs of pre-eclampsia can include:
A blood pressure reading of more than 140/90 after 20 weeks of the pregnancy. This can include an elevated blood pressure during a routine pregnancy visit or first being detected during the labour, or occasionally not until soon after the birth. High blood pressure readings can also be related to other health conditions. True pre-eclampsia means that the blood pressure returns to normal within about 3 months after the birth of the baby. It often takes 3- 5 days after the birth to stabilise. However, if you continue to have high blood pressure for longer than 3 months after the birth, it could be associated with essential hypertension or another health condition.
Protein in the urine. Protein is a very large molecule that floats in the blood. The kidneys have a fine 'sieve-like' filter that normally prevents protein from being passed into the urine. When the blood pressure rises this 'sieve' becomes somewhat impaired or damaged, allowing the protein to slip through into the urine.
If your caregiver suspects you have pre-eclampsia, they will normally test your urine for protein. This is done using a urine specimen (or sometimes a 24-hour urine collection). If the urine is being tested with the litmus paper sticks, readings can range from being 'negative' to 'a trace', 1+, 2+, 3+ or 4+. Because of the extra vaginal discharge during pregnancy, it is not unusual to obtain a reading of a trace to 1+, even when your blood pressure is normal. A reading of 2+ or above is considered significant and may be of concern.
Swelling (or oedema).