Its potential effects can be very serious for both a mother and her baby. Preeclampsia is a disorder of later pregnancy, rarely appearing before 20 weeks.
Blood pressure rises substantially above normal.
Edema , as long as it is concentrated mainly in the legs and ankles, is normal in pregnancy. It results from the higher levels of blood and other fluids in the body. But preeclampsia causes even more fluid to be retained. As preeclampsia grows more severe, the kidneys become less effective and they release unprocessed protein into the urine. The flow of urine may also be reduced.