What are pre-eclampsia and eclampsia?

Eclampsia is a more severe form of preeclampsia that can cause seizures and coma in the mother. 

What are the symptoms of pre-eclampsia?

• High blood pressure
• Too much protein in the urine 
• Swelling in a woman’s face and hands (a woman’s feet might swell too, but swollen feet are common during pregnancy and may not signal a problem)
• Systemic problems, such as headache, blurred vision, and abdominal pain

What is the treatment for pre-eclampsia?

If preeclampsia develops, the health care provider may develop a plan to try to prolong the pregnancy to give the foetus more time to grow and mature.  At the same time, the health care provider will closely watch the health of the mother for signs that the foetus needs to be delivered right away, even prematurely, if necessary.  If the preeclampsia is severe enough and the foetus is not delivered, the mother could die.  Health care providers will take steps to prevent the condition from being fatal for mother and baby.

If you have questions about preeclampsia and delivery, talk to your health care provider. 

What are the risk factors for pre-eclampsia?

• Women who have high blood pressure before becoming pregnant
• Women who had high blood pressure or preeclampsia in previous pregnancies
• Women who are obese
• Women younger than age 20 or older than age 40
• Women who are pregnant with more than one baby
• Women with certain health conditions, such as diabetes or kidney disease