Preeclampsia and water retention

Preeclampsia affects blood vessels and can alter how fluid moves through the body. Clinicians look at the pattern and speed of swelling, your blood pressure, urine protein and blood-test results. They may also ask about breathlessness, pain under the ribs, nausea, visual symptoms and baby movements. A ring or shoe feeling tight is useful information, but it is not a diagnostic test.

Tell your midwife or obstetric team about new or rapidly increasing swelling. Keep appointments so changes can be compared over time. Resting with your feet raised may ease ordinary dependent swelling, but do not use water tablets or restrict fluids unless your clinician gives specific instructions. Follow any plan for home blood-pressure readings and record symptoms with their timing.

Seek urgent maternity advice for sudden swelling of the face or hands, a severe headache, visual disturbance, pain beneath the ribs, vomiting, unusual breathlessness or reduced baby movements. Emergency help is needed for a seizure, collapse, severe breathing difficulty or chest pain. Contact the maternity service even if swelling improves, because blood pressure problems can fluctuate.

Ask whether your swelling pattern is concerning, how to measure blood pressure correctly, when to repeat urine or blood tests, and which symptoms require hospital review. If preeclampsia is diagnosed, ask how monitoring may affect plans for induction of labour or caesarean section.