What causes preeclampsia and high blood pressure during pregnancy?
Experts don’t know the exact cause of preeclampsia and high blood pressure during pregnancy. But they have some ideas about preeclampsia: • Preeclampsia seems to start because the placenta doesn’t grow the usual network of blood vessels deep in the wall of the uterus. This leads to poor blood flow in the placenta. • Preeclampsia may run in families. If your mother had preeclampsia while she was pregnant with you, you have a higher chance of getting it during pregnancy. You also have a higher chance of getting it if the mother of your baby’s father had preeclampsia. • The mother’s immune system may react to the father’s sperm, the placenta, or the baby. • Already having high blood pressure when you get pregnant raises your chance of getting preeclampsia. • Problems that can lead to high blood pressure, such as obesity, polycystic ovary syndrome, and diabetes, could raise your risk of preeclampsia.
