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Pre-eclampsia

Pre-eclampsia is a condition, which occurs only during pregnancy, or immediately after delivery of the baby. Women develop high blood pressure together with protein in the urine and fluid retention (oedema). Although pre-eclampsia is usually mild, it should always be taken seriously, because in a few cases it can cause complications such as growth problems in the baby.

Mild pre-eclampsia affects around one in ten women, and usually occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy. It doesn’t always need treatment – regular check ups on you and your baby’s health may be all that’s required. Some cases can be managed with drugs to lower blood pressure, but this does not stop pre-eclampsia, it simply controls the condition. The only complete cure is to deliver the baby, but this depends on the stage of pregnancy because being born prematurely can be dangerous. Babies may also be 'small-for-dates' because of growth problems.

Around 1 in 100 women with pre-eclampsia go on to develop a serious complication called eclampsia. This can happen at any stage in pregnancy, but particularly the last three months and in the 48 hours after birth. Eclampsia is a type of seizure that can be life-threatening. Every year in the UK, pre eclampsia is responsible for the deaths of 7-10 mothers, and between 500-600 babies.

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