Reviewed by the Progyny Clinical Team — March 2026.
There are so many exciting aspects of pregnancy and having a baby. One area that’s harder to think about is problems to look out for. Fortunately, knowing the basics and talking with your provider can help protect your health and your baby’s health.
Let’s talk about preeclampsia, a type of high blood pressure that happens during pregnancy or after childbirth. It affects up to 1 in 12 pregnancies and has become more common over time – so getting informed is important.
We’ll go over the basics together. Your healthcare team is at your side throughout pregnancy and afterwards to support you.
Preeclampsia is high blood pressure that starts during pregnancy or after childbirth. It may come on suddenly, and it usually begins:
With prompt diagnosis and treatment, most people with preeclampsia recover and have healthy babies.
But without proper treatment, preeclampsia may cause serious problems. This can include organ damage (such as the kidneys, liver, lungs, or brain) and seizures. For the baby, it may cause slowed growth or being born early. In severe cases, it may be life-threatening.
This can be hard to think about, but learning more puts you in a powerful position.
Preeclampsia can happen to anyone, although some people have a higher risk. Risk factors include:
In this video, Dr. Thomas Kishkovich, maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Columbia University Medical Center, talks about lowering your risk for preeclampsia.
You may not feel any symptoms with preeclampsia. Often, you can’t feel high blood pressure.
This is why your appointments during and after pregnancy are key. It’s a chance for your healthcare provider to check your blood pressure and urine to make sure you and the baby are doing well.
Sometimes, preeclampsia does have warning signs. If you have any of these, get medical help right away. It’s always OK to call if anything just feels “off.”
Some of these (like swelling or headaches) may be similar to symptoms that can happen during pregnancy. For your safety, always call if you have any of these symptoms.
Preeclampsia is diagnosed if blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. It’s high if either the top (systolic blood pressure) or the bottom (diastolic blood pressure) number is high.
Your provider may also check for protein in the urine, a sign that the kidneys have been affected by high blood pressure. Blood work may show other signs of preeclampsia.
Be sure to go to all your pregnancy and postpartum appointments. By working closely with your healthcare team, you’re taking big steps to keep yourself and your baby healthy.
To lower your risk, your doctor may recommend that you:
Sometimes, preeclampsia needs to be managed in the hospital, and it’s possible for the baby to be delivered early.
Preeclampsia often goes away after birth. But you are still at risk after having the baby. Listen to your body and call your provider if you have any warning signs.
You can take steps to help lower your risk and catch preeclampsia early, and your healthcare team is here to support you. Your Progyny Care Advocate is also available to answer questions and help you get ready for your upcoming visits.
Explore related topics in this series:
Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.