Preeclampsia in Pregnancy: Grand Rapids, Michigan Guide

Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication that Grand Rapids moms-to-be should know about. With expert care available at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health, early detection and treatment can greatly improve outcomes for both mother and baby.

What Is Preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia is a disorder of pregnancy characterized by:

  • High blood pressure (hypertension) after 20 weeks of pregnancy
  • Protein in the urine (proteinuria), which signals stress on the kidneys

In the United States, preeclampsia affects about 5–8% of all pregnancies. Around 1–2% of cases are severe enough to threaten the lives of both the mother and her unborn child.

In most women, blood pressure returns to normal after the baby and placenta are delivered.

Preeclampsia and Pregnancy in Grand Rapids, MI

In Grand Rapids and across West Michigan, preeclampsia is a key focus of prenatal care because:

  • Our cold winters and icy conditions can increase overall cardiovascular stress, making blood pressure monitoring especially important.
  • Many local families have a history of high blood pressure, diabetes, or kidney disease, which can increase the risk of preeclampsia.
  • Major local hospitals, including Spectrum Health and Trinity Health Grand Rapids, have high‑risk obstetrics and maternal–fetal medicine specialists who regularly manage preeclampsia.

If you are pregnant in Grand Rapids, your OB/GYN or midwife will routinely screen for preeclampsia at every prenatal visit.

When Does Preeclampsia Develop?

Preeclampsia can develop any time in the second half of pregnancy (after 20 weeks), but it most commonly appears in the third trimester or near your due date.

It can also develop:

  • During labor
  • Shortly after delivery (postpartum preeclampsia), even if your blood pressure was normal during pregnancy

What Causes Preeclampsia?

The exact cause is not fully understood, but research points to:

  • The placenta – Problems with how the placenta forms and functions early in pregnancy can affect blood flow to both mother and baby.
  • Genetics – Preeclampsia can run in families. If your mother or sister had preeclampsia, your risk is higher.
  • Blood vessel changes – Abnormal development of blood vessels in the uterus may lead to high blood pressure and organ stress.

Preeclampsia is:

  • More common in first pregnancies than in later ones
  • More likely to recur if you had it in a previous pregnancy

Who Is at Higher Risk of Preeclampsia?

Any pregnant person can develop preeclampsia, but you may be at higher risk if you:

  • Are pregnant with twins, triplets, or more
  • Are a first‑time mom
  • Had preeclampsia in a prior pregnancy
  • Have chronic high blood pressure
  • Have kidney disease, diabetes, or autoimmune conditions (such as lupus)
  • Are over age 35
  • Have obesity
  • Have a family history of preeclampsia (mother, sister, or close relative)
  • Conceived through IVF or fertility treatments

In Grand Rapids, your OB/GYN at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health will review these risk factors early in pregnancy and may recommend closer monitoring if your risk is higher.

Why Regular Prenatal Care in Grand Rapids Is Critical

Because early preeclampsia often has no obvious symptoms, many women feel completely well.

That’s why regular prenatal visits in Grand Rapids are so important. At each visit your provider will:

  • Check your blood pressure
  • Test your urine for protein
  • Ask about headaches, vision changes, swelling, or pain

Local clinics and hospitals in Grand Rapids follow national guidelines to screen for preeclampsia at every prenatal appointment.

If you have limited access to care, the Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health can help you find prenatal services and insurance options.

Early Symptoms of Preeclampsia

Early on, you may not notice anything unusual. Some signs that can appear as preeclampsia develops include:

  • Protein in the urine (proteinuria) – usually detected on a routine urine test
  • Swelling (edema):
    • Mild swelling of the feet and ankles is common in normal pregnancy
    • Sudden or severe swelling of the:
      • Face
      • Hands
      • Feet or ankles
        can be a warning sign of preeclampsia

Contact your Grand Rapids provider or labor and delivery unit right away if you notice sudden swelling, especially if it appears over hours to a few days.

Advanced or Severe Symptoms of Preeclampsia

If preeclampsia worsens, you may develop more serious symptoms, such as:

  • Severe or persistent headache that does not improve with rest or acetaminophen
  • Changes in vision – blurred vision, flashing lights, seeing spots, or temporary loss of vision
  • Pain in the upper right side of the abdomen (under the ribs), which can signal liver involvement
  • Nausea or vomiting, especially if it starts suddenly in late pregnancy
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Confusion or feeling “out of it”

If you experience any of these symptoms in Grand Rapids:

  • Call your OB/GYN or midwife immediately
  • If you cannot reach your provider, go to the nearest emergency department or labor and delivery unit at a local hospital such as Spectrum Health or Trinity Health Grand Rapids
  • Call 911 if you feel very unwell, faint, or have trouble breathing

How Preeclampsia Affects Your Baby

Your baby receives oxygen and nutrients through the placenta, which attaches to the wall of your uterus. Preeclampsia can affect how well blood flows through the placenta.

Possible effects on the baby include:

  • Reduced blood flow to the placenta – less oxygen and nutrients reach your baby
  • Growth restriction (intrauterine growth restriction, IUGR) – your baby may grow more slowly than expected
  • Low birth weight
  • Need for early delivery (preterm birth) if the pregnancy becomes too dangerous to continue
  • Placental abruption – the placenta separates from the uterine wall before birth, causing:
    • Vaginal bleeding
    • Abdominal pain
    • A medical emergency for both mother and baby

In Grand Rapids, fetal growth is usually monitored with ultrasound at local imaging centers or hospital-based maternal–fetal medicine clinics. If growth restriction is found, your care team may recommend closer monitoring or early delivery.

This Is a Medical Emergency

If you have:

  • Heavy vaginal bleeding
  • Sudden, severe abdominal pain
  • Severe headache and vision changes
  • Seizure or loss of consciousness

Call 911 immediately and go to the nearest Grand Rapids emergency department or labor and delivery unit. Placental abruption and severe preeclampsia can be life‑threatening and require urgent treatment.

How Preeclampsia Is Diagnosed

Preeclampsia is diagnosed when:

  • Blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg or higher on at least two readings, four hours apart, after 20 weeks of pregnancy, and
  • You have one or more of the following:
    • Protein in the urine (proteinuria)
    • Signs of kidney problems (elevated creatinine)
    • Liver problems (elevated liver enzymes, right‑upper‑abdominal pain)
    • Low platelets (thrombocytopenia)
    • Fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema)
    • Neurologic symptoms (severe headache, vision changes, confusion)
    • Fetal growth restriction, often seen on ultrasound

In Grand Rapids, your provider may order:

  • Urine tests (dipstick or 24‑hour urine collection)
  • Blood tests to check kidney and liver function and platelets
  • Ultrasound to assess your baby’s growth and amniotic fluid
  • Fetal monitoring (non‑stress tests, biophysical profiles)

Mild vs. Severe Preeclampsia

Mild Preeclampsia

  • Blood pressure is elevated but not extremely high
  • Protein is present in the urine
  • You may have mild swelling but few or no other symptoms

If you are diagnosed with mild preeclampsia in Grand Rapids:

  • Your OB/GYN or midwife will tell you how often you need prenatal check‑ups
  • Your blood pressure and urine will be tested regularly
  • You will be asked about symptoms at each visit
  • You may need more frequent fetal ultrasounds and monitoring

Some women can be managed as outpatients with close follow‑up, while others may be monitored in the hospital depending on how far along the pregnancy is and how stable your condition is.

Severe Preeclampsia

Severe preeclampsia is diagnosed when:

  • Blood pressure is very high (often 160/110 mm Hg or higher)
  • Organs such as the kidneys, liver, brain, or blood system are affected
  • There are serious symptoms (e.g., severe headache, vision changes, shortness of breath, very low platelets, or severe abdominal pain)

If you are diagnosed with severe preeclampsia in Grand Rapids:

  • You will likely be admitted to the hospital (often to a high‑risk obstetrics unit)
  • Your blood pressure, urine, and symptoms will be monitored very closely
  • Your baby’s well‑being will be checked frequently

Possible Complications for the Mother

If preeclampsia is not treated, it can lead to serious health problems, including:

  • Eclampsia – seizures or convulsions caused by very high blood pressure and brain irritation
  • HELLP syndrome – a severe form of preeclampsia with:
    • Hemolysis (breakdown of red blood cells)
    • Elevated liver enzymes
    • Low platelets
  • Stroke or bleeding in the brain
  • Kidney failure
  • Liver damage or rupture
  • Severe fluid retention and pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)
  • Long‑term increased risk of heart disease and high blood pressure later in life

Symptoms such as:

  • Fitting or convulsions
  • Severe headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Visual disturbances
  • Sudden swelling of the face, hands, or feet

should always be treated as urgent and evaluated immediately at a Grand Rapids emergency department or labor and delivery unit.

How Preeclampsia Is Treated

General Treatment Goals

Treatment focuses on:

  1. Protecting the mother’s health
  2. Allowing the baby to grow as long as it is safe
  3. Deciding the safest time to deliver the baby

Treatment Options

Depending on how far along you are and how severe your preeclampsia is, treatment in a Grand Rapids hospital may include:

  • Blood pressure medications (antihypertensives) to lower blood pressure
  • Anticonvulsant medication (usually magnesium sulfate) to prevent seizures
  • Corticosteroid injections to help mature the baby’s lungs if early delivery is likely
  • Bed rest or activity modification (less common as a formal prescription now, but you may be advised to take it easy)
  • Hospital monitoring with frequent checks of:
    • Blood pressure
    • Urine output
    • Blood tests
    • Fetal heart rate and movement

The Only Cure: Delivery of the Baby and Placenta

Currently, the only true cure for preeclampsia is:

  • Delivery of the baby and
  • Delivery of the placenta

This may mean:

  • Inducing labor (starting labor with medication)
  • Cesarean birth (C‑section) if vaginal delivery is not safe

Your Grand Rapids care team will balance:

  • How severe your preeclampsia is
  • How far along your pregnancy is
  • Your baby’s growth and well‑being

Maternal deaths in the United States are rare, but preeclampsia and its complications still account for about 15% of maternal deaths. This is why close monitoring and timely delivery are essential.

After Delivery and Postpartum Preeclampsia

After your baby and placenta are delivered:

  • Blood pressure usually improves over days to weeks
  • You may still need blood pressure medication for a period of time
  • Some women develop postpartum preeclampsia even if their pregnancy blood pressure was normal

In Grand Rapids, you will typically:

  • Have your blood pressure monitored in the hospital after birth
  • Be given instructions for checking blood pressure at home or in clinic
  • Have a follow‑up visit with your OB/GYN or primary care provider within a few weeks after delivery

If you develop new headaches, vision changes, swelling, or shortness of breath after going home, call your provider or go to the emergency department immediately.

Long‑Term Health After Preeclampsia

Women who have had preeclampsia have a higher lifetime risk of:

  • Chronic high blood pressure
  • Heart disease and stroke
  • Kidney disease

In Grand Rapids, follow‑up with a primary care physician or cardiologist is important. Local health systems (Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health) can help coordinate this care. Lifestyle changes, regular blood pressure checks, and heart‑healthy habits are strongly recommended.

Can Preeclampsia Be Predicted or Prevented?

Researchers are working to:

  • Identify genetic factors that increase preeclampsia risk
  • Develop pre‑pregnancy or early‑pregnancy tests to predict who is most at risk

Currently, there is no guaranteed way to prevent preeclampsia, but your Grand Rapids provider may recommend:

  • Low‑dose aspirin (usually starting in the late first trimester) if you are at high risk
  • Managing existing conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or kidney disease before and during pregnancy
  • Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, and staying physically active as advised by your provider

Local Grand Rapids Resources for Pregnancy and Preeclampsia

If you are pregnant in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and concerned about preeclampsia, consider these resources:

  • OB/GYN and Midwifery Practices at:
    • Spectrum Health
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health
    • Mercy Health
  • Maternal–Fetal Medicine (High‑Risk Pregnancy) Clinics at major hospital systems
  • Kent County Health Department – for prenatal programs, WIC, and support services
  • Grand Rapids Public Health – for community health resources and referrals

These local providers are experienced in diagnosing, monitoring, and treating preeclampsia in West Michigan’s diverse population.

Key Points About Preeclampsia in Grand Rapids, MI

  • The causes of preeclampsia are not fully understood, but genetics and the placenta play major roles.
  • Preeclampsia is more common in first pregnancies than in later ones.
  • It is defined by high blood pressure and protein in the urine after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
  • Regular prenatal checks of your blood pressure and urine are essential for early detection.
  • Early symptoms include protein in the urine and sudden swelling of the face, hands, or feet.
  • Severe symptoms such as headache, vision changes, abdominal pain, and seizures are medical emergencies.
  • The only cure is delivery of the baby and placenta, usually at a Grand Rapids hospital with experienced obstetric and neonatal teams.
  • With early diagnosis and expert care available across Grand Rapids, most women with preeclampsia go on to have healthy births and recover well.

If you are pregnant in Grand Rapids and have questions about your blood pressure, swelling, or any symptoms that concern you, contact your local OB/GYN or midwife right away.