Pre-eclampsia

Symptoms of pre-eclampsia

Early signs of pre-eclampsia include high blood pressure (hypertension) and having protein in your pee. 

It's unlikely that you'll notice these signs, so you'll be offered regular blood pressure and pee checks at your routine antenatal (pregnancy) appointments.

Other symptoms include:

• a severe headache that does not go away with simple painkillers
• vision problems, such as blurred vision or seeing flashing lights
• pain below the ribs
• sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet
• feeling very unwell
• heartburn that does not go away with heartburn medicines
• being sick (vomiting)

Any of these symptoms can be serious and need to be checked immediately.

Pre-eclampsia is most likely from 20 weeks of pregnancy onwards, but it can happen at any point in pregnancy.

Tests for pre-eclampsia

Tests for pre-eclampsia include:

• blood pressure checks
• pee tests

If a midwife or doctor thinks you may have pre-eclampsia, they'll usually refer you to hospital for further tests.

These can include a blood test and ultrasound scans to check your baby's growth.

Complications of pre-eclampsia

In most cases pre-eclampsia is not severe.

Sometimes it can cause complications for your baby, including slower growth during pregnancy and premature birth (being born too early).

Sometimes pre-eclampsia can lead to serious, possibly life-threatening complications.

These include:

• seizures (eclampsia)
• HELLP syndrome (a rare liver and blood disorder)
• stroke
• stillbirth

Treating pre-eclampsia

Currently there is no cure for pre-eclampsia, but there are treatments that can help manage your symptoms. The symptoms usually improve once your baby is born.

You'll be seen by a specialist, usually in hospital, to check how severe the condition is.

A care plan will be agreed with you to keep you and your baby as healthy as possible. This usually includes more regular appointments in pregnancy to monitor the pre-eclampsia, and extra scans to check how well your baby is growing.

You'll usually be given a medicine to lower your blood pressure, and reduce your risk of a stroke.

If your pre-eclampsia symptoms are not severe you may be able to go home.

If you have severe pre-eclampsia, you may need to stay in hospital for monitoring and treatment until it's safe for your baby to be born.

You might be given medicine to prevent seizures as an injection or drip.

Pre-eclampsia and giving birth

If you have pre-eclampsia, it's often safer for your baby to be born early, in some cases before 37 weeks.

Labour may be started by a healthcare professional (inducing labour) or you may be offered a caesarean section.

You'll be monitored in hospital after the birth and your baby may also need to be monitored.

Pre-eclampsia symptoms usually go away after your baby is born, but sometimes they can continue after birth.

After you leave hospital you may need to:

• take medicine for a few weeks to lower your blood pressure
• have regular blood pressure checks

Find out more about premature labour and birth

Causes of pre-eclampsia

It's not known what causes pre-eclampsia.

You may be at higher risk of pre-eclampsia if:

• you have diabetes, high blood pressure or kidney disease
• you have an autoimmune condition, such as lupus or antiphospholipid syndrome
• you've had pre-eclampsia in a previous pregnancy

You may also have a higher risk of pre-eclampsia if:

• it's your first pregnancy
• you're aged 40 or over
• you're from a Black or South Asian ethnic background
• you're pregnant with multiple babies (twins or triplets)
• your mother, sister or another relative has had pre-eclampsia
• it's been 10 years or more since your last pregnancy
• you have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or more before pregnancy

How to reduce your risk of pre-eclampsia

It's important to attend your pregnancy (antenatal) appointments. This is where your midwife can work out whether you are at risk of developing pre-eclampsia.

If a midwife or doctor thinks you're at a higher risk of pre-eclampsia they may prescribe:

• aspirin – every day from week 12 of pregnancy until your baby is born
• calcium supplements – if you do not not get enough calcium from the foods you eat

Do not start taking aspirin or calcium supplements unless you have been advised to by a midwife or GP.

Maintaining a healthy weight by eating a healthy, balanced diet and exercising can also help lower your risk of pre-eclampsia.

Help and support for pre-eclampsia

If you have pre-eclampsia it can be worrying. Your midwife and doctor will offer you support.

The charity Action on Pre-eclampsia offers support and information.

Action on Pre-eclampsia

• Website: action-on-pre-eclampsia.org.uk
• Action on Pre-eclampsia: pre-eclampsia support and information