Watchman Medical Professionals Forum

Key Points

Preeclampsia affects about 2–8% of pregnancies worldwide.
It usually appears after 20 weeks, during labour, or shortly after birth.
The main signs are high blood pressure and protein in the urine.
Most cases are mild, but it can lead to serious complications for both mother and baby if not treated.
Medication can control the blood pressure, but the condition improves only after the baby and placenta are delivered.
Women who’ve had preeclampsia have a higher risk of high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease later in life.

Let Me Tell You A Story

I still remember one of the first patients I managed with eclampsia. That night, she came in convulsing, and her husband was in obvious panic. She had delivered her baby in a poorly equipped hospital and was referred to us because her blood pressure was hitting the roof.

The emergency room was chaotic. Nurses rushed to check her vitals while we tried to put together the medications to stabilise her.

Thankfully, she was rescued from what could have been the end.

As a doctor, moments like that stay with you. And as a family member, you might be left traumatised.

Preeclampsia and its complications are conditions no one wants to have.

So if you’re pregnant and reading this, I hope this helps you understand what’s happening in your body, so you know when to seek help, what symptoms of preeclampsia to look out for, and what support you may need even after delivery.

Preeclampsia Explained

Preeclampsia is high blood pressure that develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It can cause serious complications for you and your baby [1]. It affects the way your placenta works and can put stress on several organs such as the kidneys, liver and brain [2].

Pre-eclampsia affects roughly 2–8% of pregnancies worldwide. Each year, it’s linked to about 46,000 maternal deaths and close to half a million babies who don’t survive [3]. These numbers are heart-breaking, and they’re exactly why early recognition and proper care matter.

When preeclampsia becomes severe, it can lead to eclampsia, which is when a pregnant woman develops seizures on top of other preeclampsia symptoms.

What Causes Preeclampsia?

The cause of preeclampsia is complex and not fully known. What we do know from available research is that there's a problem with the way the placenta forms. Something about the way the placenta develops affects your blood vessels and leads to inflammation and poor blood flow. These problems eventually show up as high blood pressure and other complications associated with preeclampsia [2].

Symptoms Of Preeclampsia

The earliest symptoms of preeclampsia are usually noticed during your antenatal visits. These symptoms are:

High blood pressure
Protein in your urine

Most women don’t feel anything at first. That’s why learning how to track symptoms of preeclampsia is so important.

You can check your blood pressure at home too. All you need is a simple machine and a small blood pressure journal that makes it easier to show your midwife what’s going on.

As preeclampsia becomes more severe, you may notice:

Headaches that don’t go away
Nausea or vomiting
Blurry vision
Pain on the right side of your upper belly
Shortness of breath
Sudden swelling of hands, feet or face (You might notice your rings don’t fit anymore)

If something feels wrong, call your doctor or midwife.

Who is At Risk?

Your chances of developing preeclampsia are higher if you [4]:

Are pregnant for the first time
Are younger than 20 or older than 35
Have chronic hypertension, diabetes, or kidney disease
Have high cholesterol levels
Had preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy
Have a close family member who had preeclampsia
Are pregnant again after more than 10 years
Are carrying twins or more
Are overweight and have a BMI of 35 or above
Have an autoimmune condition such as antiphospholipid syndrome
Are pregnant with a new partner

Having more than one factor puts you at a higher risk and you might need to be put on aspirin by your doctor.

How Is Preeclampsia Diagnosed?

If your doctor suspects you could be having preeclampsia, they’ll do the following to confirm a diagnosis:

Your blood pressure (A blood pressure of >140/90mmHg)
Urine tests for protein (Proteins present in your urine of ≥0.3 g/24 hours)
Blood tests checking liver and kidney function
Ultrasound to monitor your baby’s growth
Blood flow in the placenta (doppler scan)

Treatment of Preeclampsia

Treatment depends on how far along you are and how severe the symptoms are.

Most women with moderate or severe preeclampsia are admitted to the hospital. You may get:

Blood pressure medication (s)
Magnesium sulphate to reduce the chance of seizures
Close monitoring of your baby
Steroid injections to help mature your baby’s lungs if early delivery might be needed

The only true cure is delivery. But doctors try to keep you pregnant for up to 37 weeks or for as long as it’s safe so your baby can keep growing.

How Does Preeclampsia Affect You and Your Baby?

Most babies born to mothers with preeclampsia do well, but the condition can affect how efficiently the placenta works. When the placenta doesn’t deliver enough oxygen and nutrients, babies may grow more slowly than expected.

Some babies are born on the smaller side, and in more serious cases, your doctor may recommend an early delivery. That can mean a stay in the NICU, which many mothers describe as one of the hardest parts of the experience.

While most babies catch up with normal growth later on, research shows that children born from pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia may have a slightly higher chance of long-term conditions like insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and, later in life, heart disease. Not every child will face these issues, but knowing the risks helps parents plan for regular check-ups and healthy habits as their child grows.

For the mother, untreated preeclampsia can become dangerous very quickly. It can lead to serious complications such as kidney problems, liver injury or rupture, fluid in the lungs, seizures (eclampsia), issues with blood clotting, stroke, and in rare cases, death. Because of these risks, some women with preeclampsia also end up needing a Caesarean section, especially if the condition worsens suddenly or the baby shows signs of distress.

Can You Prevent Preeclampsia?

While there’s no guaranteed way to prevent preeclampsia, you may lower the risk by:

Taking low-dose aspirin if your doctor recommends it
Taking calcium supplements especially if your diary intake is low [6]
Managing any chronic health conditions well before pregnancy
Keeping active and eating nourishing foods
Attending every antenatal appointment
Monitoring your blood pressure if you’re high-risk

Please do not start aspirin on your own. Always discuss it with your doctor.

What Happens After You Deliver?

Many women assume preeclampsia disappears once the placenta is out. Yes, delivery removes the source of the problem, but preeclampsia symptoms after delivery can still persist.

Here’s what usually happens:

1. Blood pressure may remain high

Some women’s blood pressure stays elevated for days or weeks and might require long-term antihypertensive medications.

2. You might need check-ups for 6–12 weeks

Your doctor will likely monitor your blood pressure and urine tests after delivery until everything normalises.

3. Your risk in future pregnancies may be higher

You might have preeclampsia in subsequent pregnancies [4].

4. Long-term health

Women who’ve had preeclampsia have a slightly higher risk of high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease later in life.

5. The emotional side

A lot of mothers say they felt:

Afraid to sleep
Hyper-aware of their symptoms
Guilty they delivered early
Worried about getting pregnant again

This is normal. Birth trauma and health anxiety are very common after preeclampsia. Talk to your doctor for support, especially if the worry is affecting your daily life. You can also access help from platforms like Preeclampsia Foundation.

Will I Get Preeclampsia Again?

Every woman is different. Some women may never experience preeclampsia in subsequent pregnancies while others do. If you are at risk, your doctor will guide you early in the next pregnancy with extra scans and possibly aspirin.

When Should You Go To The Hospital Immediately?

Whether your pregnancy has been progressing fine or you’ve been told you have preeclampsia and are being monitored at home, you should go to the hospital If you experience:

Severe headaches
Vision changes
Chest pain
Sudden swelling
Decreased movements of your baby
Seizures

Final Thoughts

Preeclampsia can be frightening. It can shake your confidence in your body and change how you feel about pregnancy. But with early detection, good monitoring, and timely care, most women have good pregnancy outcomes.