Word parts
What it means
A pregnancy disorder in which new high blood pressure (140/90 mm Hg or higher) appears after 20 weeks, together with protein in the urine or signs that organs are affected. Warning signs include a bad headache, vision changes, pain under the right ribs and sudden swelling of the face and hands. It can also start in the weeks after birth. If seizures occur, it has become eclampsiaih-KLAMP-see-uhSeizures in a pregnant or recently pregnant person with preeclampsia, when no other cause explains them.Full entry . Delivering the baby and placenta is the only cure.
For the nurse
Check blood pressure, reflexes, urine protein, weight and symptoms at each visit or shift. IV magnesium sulfate is given to prevent seizures; during the infusion check breathing, reflexes and urine output and keep calcium gluconate close. Keep the room quiet and dim and use seizure precautions.
In a chart
"BP 162/104; 2+ protein in urine; client reports headache and spots before her eyes; provider notified."
At a glance
| Spanish | preeclampsia |
|---|---|
| Also written | pre-eclampsia |
Easy to confuse with
eclampsia
Seizures in a pregnant or recently pregnant person with preeclampsia, when no other cause explains them.
Related terms
hypertension
Blood pressure that stays higher than normal, at or above 130/80 mm Hg by current US guidelines.
magnesium
A mineral in the blood that the nerves, muscles and heart need, measured with a blood test.
eclampsia
Seizures in a pregnant or recently pregnant person with preeclampsia, when no other cause explains them.
placenta
The organ that grows in the uterus during pregnancy and passes oxygen and food from the parent's blood to the fetus.
prenatal
Before birth; during pregnancy.