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Preeclampsia is a pregnancy condition in which blood pressure rises and the body’s organs, often the kidneys and liver, come under strain. It can develop quietly, without any symptom you would notice at home, which is exactly why every antenatal visit includes a blood pressure check and a urine test.
This guide explains the warning signs, who is more likely to be affected, how doctors manage it, and when to treat symptoms as urgent.
What Is Preeclampsia?
It is a high blood pressure disorder that usually starts after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The World Health Organization estimates that it affects roughly 3 to 8 percent of women giving birth. If it is not treated it can progress to eclampsia, which involves seizures, and both conditions can be life-threatening for mother and baby. The cause is not fully understood; reduced blood flow to the placenta is thought to play a part.
With regular check-ups and timely treatment, most women with preeclampsia have a safe outcome, so the message is not to panic but to attend every visit and learn the signs.
Warning Signs You Should Know
Early on there may be no symptoms at all. As the condition advances, the NHS, WHO and NIH list these signs:
- A severe headache that does not ease with simple painkillers
- Blurred vision, flashing lights or spots before the eyes
- Pain in the upper abdomen, just below the ribs, usually on the right side
- Sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet
- Nausea or vomiting that begins later in pregnancy
- Feeling very unwell, or persistent heartburn that does not respond to usual remedies
Mild swelling of the feet is common in pregnancy and is not by itself a sign of preeclampsia. It is the sudden change, or swelling together with the other signs, that matters.
Important: seizures, severe headache with vision changes, or severe pain under the ribs are emergencies. Go to the nearest hospital immediately and do not wait to see if it settles.
Who Is at Higher Risk?
Some women are more likely to develop it. According to the NHS, the risk is higher if you have:
- Had preeclampsia in an earlier pregnancy
- High blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease or an autoimmune condition such as lupus before pregnancy
- A first pregnancy, a twin or multiple pregnancy, or an age of 40 or above
- A mother or sister who had preeclampsia
- Ten or more years since your last pregnancy, or a high body mass index
The NHS also lists South Asian background among the risk factors. Having a risk factor does not mean you will definitely get it; it means your team will watch more closely.
How Doctors Check for It
At each antenatal visit you will have your blood pressure measured and your urine tested for protein. If the readings are raised, you may be asked to come in more often, have blood tests to check your liver, kidneys and platelets, and have ultrasound scans to see how the baby is growing. Our guide to pregnancy check-ups month by month explains what is done at each visit.
Some women are advised to check blood pressure at home. If you do this, use a validated machine, sit quietly for a few minutes first, and write the readings down for your doctor.
Can It Be Prevented?
There is no guaranteed way to prevent it. WHO recommends low-dose aspirin for women at high risk, started early, and calcium supplements where the diet is low in calcium. The NHS describes aspirin being offered from around week 12. The exact start time and dose differ between guidelines, so guidelines vary. Never start aspirin or calcium on your own, because they are only appropriate for some women, and your doctor must decide.
General healthy habits also help: attending every check-up, managing pre-existing blood pressure or diabetes, staying active as advised, and keeping a healthy weight before pregnancy.
How Is It Treated?
There is no cure except delivering the baby and placenta, but treatment keeps you and your baby safe until the right time. Depending on how severe it is, your doctor may:
- Prescribe medicine to bring blood pressure down and reduce the risk of stroke
- Monitor you more closely, sometimes in hospital
- Give magnesium sulfate, which WHO describes as the main medicine to prevent seizures in severe disease
- Give steroid injections if an early birth is likely, to help the baby’s lungs mature
- Plan delivery by induction or caesarean, which is sometimes recommended before 37 weeks if the condition is serious
The timing of birth balances the risk to you against the baby’s maturity, and your obstetrician will explain the reasoning. See our overview of high-risk pregnancy for the wider picture.
Preeclampsia After Delivery
It usually improves after birth, but it can also appear for the first time in the days or weeks after delivery, and symptoms can continue after the baby is born. Do not ignore a severe headache, vision changes, breathlessness or swelling in the first weeks at home. You may need blood pressure tablets for a few weeks and regular checks. Our postpartum recovery guide lists other warning signs.
Questions to Ask at Your Next Visit
- What was my blood pressure today, and what range should I worry about?
- Do I have any risk factors that make extra monitoring or medicine sensible for me?
- Should I check my blood pressure at home, and which numbers mean I must call?
- Which symptoms should send me straight to the hospital, and how far is the nearest one from home?
- What will my plan be for delivery if my blood pressure goes up?
Write the answers in your antenatal file and share them with the people who live with you. If preeclampsia is suspected, someone at home should know which hospital to go to, and how, even at night.
Looking After Your Feelings
A diagnosis of preeclampsia, especially one that leads to early delivery or a hospital stay, can be frightening. You may worry about the baby and feel guilty, even though nothing you did caused it. Ask your care team to explain what is happening in plain words, and lean on family for practical help. If the worry stays heavy after delivery, our article on postpartum depression explains where to find support.
Most importantly, remember that the whole point of regular blood pressure checks is that problems are caught while they can still be treated. Attending every appointment is the single most powerful thing you can do.
When to Call or Visit
Go to hospital urgently, or call your doctor straight away, if you have a severe headache, vision changes, pain under the ribs, sudden swelling, trouble breathing, a fit, or reduced baby movement. If you cannot reach your doctor, call an ambulance or have someone take you to the nearest emergency department.
Chaitanya Hospital in Kadapa lists high-risk pregnancy care, including care for preeclampsia, among its specialities, and delivery and emergency care are open 24/7. You can call +91 944 103 0587 or book an appointment. Learn more about high-risk pregnancy care.
This article is for general education only. It is not a substitute for a doctor’s advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please talk to your own doctor about your situation.
References
This article was written in our own words from the following public health sources.
Educational content
Please note. This article is for general awareness and is not a substitute for a doctor’s advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are worried about your health, or in an emergency, call +91 944 103 0587 or visit the hospital.
