Pre-eclampsia is a condition that affects some people during pregnancy.
It usually happens:
- after 30 weeks of pregnancy
- in the first 6 weeks after birth
But it can be a problem from around 20 weeks of pregnancy.
It is a combination of high blood pressure (hypertension) and too much protein in your urine (proteinuria).
Most women with pre-eclampsia go on to have healthy babies.
Signs of pre-eclampsia
The first signs of pre-eclampsia are:
- high blood pressure (hypertension)
- too much protein in your pee
It's unlikely that you'll notice these signs. They should be picked up during your routine antenatal appointments. It's important to attend all your antenatal appointments.
There are symptoms of pre-eclampsia you may notice.
Early symptoms of pre-eclampsia include sudden swelling of your hands, feet, ankles, neck or face.
More severe symptoms of pre-eclampsia include:
- a headache
- vision problems, such as blurring, spots or flashing lights
- pain just below your ribs, particularly on the right-hand side
- feeling sick (nausea)
- vomiting
Urgent advice: Contact your GP or midwife urgently
if you have any of these symptoms and are:
- pregnant
- in the first 6 weeks since your baby's birth
Without immediate treatment, pre-eclampsia may lead to serious complications, including:
- convulsions (eclampsia)
- HELLP syndrome (a combined liver and blood clotting disorder)
- stroke
But these complications are rare.
Complications of pre-eclampsia
Who’s most at risk of pre-eclampsia
You have higher chance of getting pre-eclampsia if you had any of these conditions before becoming pregnant:
- type 1 or type 2 diabetes
- high blood pressure (hypertension)
- kidney problems
- other medical conditions such as lupus
It is more common to get pre-eclampsia if:
- you're pregnant for the first time
- you’re over age 40
- you’re expecting multiple babies (twins or triplets)
- you're pregnant through fertility treatment (IVF, egg donation and shared motherhood)
- you had pre-eclampsia during a previous pregnancy
- your mother or sister had pre-eclampsia during their pregnancies
- it’s been over 10 years since your last pregnancy
- you have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or over
If you have 2 or more of these together, then your chances of getting pre-eclampsia are higher.
Preventing pre-eclampsia
It's not possible to prevent pre-eclampsia. But identifying pre-eclampsia early can improve your outcomes during pregnancy.
To lower the risk for you and your baby, go to all your antenatal appointments.
If your doctor thinks you are at high risk of getting pre-eclampsia, they may prescribe low-dose aspirin.
To look after your health during pregnancy:
- eat a wide variety of healthy foods
- stay active
Treating pre-eclampsia
If your GP or midwife thinks you have pre-eclampsia, you will be referred for an assessment by an obstetrician in the hospital.
They will assess you with blood tests, scans and blood pressure checks.
The only way to cure pre-eclampsia is to deliver your baby.
But you'll be monitored closely until you can give birth to your baby. This will normally be at around 37 to 38 weeks of pregnancy. But it may be earlier in more severe cases.
You may also need to take medicine to lower your blood pressure while you wait for the birth of your baby.
Giving birth if you have pre-eclampsia
Your doctor or midwife will decide on when it is best for your baby to be born. They will help you to prepare for the birth.
If your baby needs to be born before 37 weeks of pregnancy, you may be given 2 steroid injections to help your baby's lungs develop.
They may advise an induced labour or a caesarean birth.
A doctor who specialises in newborn babies (neonatologist) or children (paediatrician) may be at the birth.
Ask questions. Your doctors will be happy to explain everything to you and your birth partner.
Complications of pre-eclampsia
Most cases of pre-eclampsia cause no problems for the mother or the baby. But there's a risk of serious complications.
It's important to go to all your antenatal appointments so that your condition can be monitored and treated.
Problems for the mother
Pre-eclampsia can:
- affect organs in your body, including your liver
- affect the way your blood clots
- lead to fits or convulsions called eclampsia
These fits can be life threatening for the mother and baby. But they're rare.
Problems for babies
Pre-eclampsia can affect the way your placenta (afterbirth) develops. This might mean your baby does not grow as well as they should. It can also cause less amniotic fluid to be around your baby.
If you are diagnosed with pre-eclampsia your baby may need extra ultrasound scans. This is to check how they are growing and the fluid levels around them.
Sometimes your baby will need to be born early to treat your pre-eclampsia. This is known as premature birth or preterm birth.
If your baby is born early (before 37 weeks) they might need extra care after the birth, in a neonatal intensive care (NICU) and special care baby units (SCBU).
After you give birth
Most cases of pre-eclampsia improve soon after the baby is delivered. But sometimes there may be complications or your symptoms may last longer.
You may need to:
- have your blood pressure checked every year
- keep taking medicine to lower your blood pressure for a few weeks after the baby is born
Non-urgent advice: Contact your GP or midwife if:
- you have concerns about any pre-eclampsia symptoms you still have
If you had pre-eclampsia, you have a higher chance of having:
- high blood pressure and heart disease in later life
- pre-eclampsia again in future pregnancies
Taking care of yourself and having a healthy lifestyle can help lower your risk.
