Preeclampsia and Eclampsia
What is Preeclampsia and Eclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication that develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It causes high blood pressure and protein to appear in your urine. This condition affects how blood flows to your placenta, which can impact your baby's growth and health.
Eclampsia is a severe form of preeclampsia that includes seizures. It can develop even if you had no previous seizure history. Both conditions require immediate medical attention to protect you and your baby.
These conditions happen in about 5 to 8 out of every 100 pregnancies. Early detection through regular blood and urine testing can help your healthcare team manage the condition and plan the safest delivery timing. Most people with preeclampsia deliver healthy babies when the condition is caught early.
Symptoms
- High blood pressure readings, usually 140/90 or higher
- Protein in urine detected during prenatal visits
- Severe headaches that do not go away with rest
- Vision changes like blurry sight or seeing spots
- Sudden swelling in your face, hands, or feet
- Pain in your upper right belly area, often under your ribs
- Nausea or vomiting in the second half of pregnancy
- Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
- Decreased urination or very dark urine
- Seizures, which signal eclampsia has developed
Many people with early preeclampsia have no symptoms at all. This is why regular prenatal checkups and blood testing are so important during pregnancy.
Concerned about Preeclampsia and Eclampsia? Check your levels.
Screen for 1,200+ health conditions
Causes and risk factors
The exact cause of preeclampsia is not fully understood. Researchers believe it starts when blood vessels in the placenta do not develop properly. This can restrict blood flow and trigger inflammation throughout your body. Your immune system may also play a role in how your body responds to pregnancy.
Risk factors include first-time pregnancy, being pregnant with twins or more, having high blood pressure before pregnancy, being over 35 or under 20, obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, and a family history of preeclampsia. Having preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy increases your risk in future pregnancies. Certain autoimmune conditions and a gap of 10 or more years between pregnancies also raise your risk.
How it's diagnosed
Your healthcare provider diagnoses preeclampsia through blood pressure checks and urine testing at prenatal visits. A urine protein test showing 300 milligrams or more over 24 hours, or a protein to creatinine ratio of 0.3 or higher, indicates significant proteinuria. Blood tests check your kidney function, liver enzymes, and platelet counts to assess how the condition affects your organs.
Rite Aid offers testing that measures key markers including magnesium levels and urine protein. These tests help monitor your condition and guide treatment decisions. Regular monitoring through blood testing helps your healthcare team track how well treatment is working and determine the safest time for delivery.
Treatment options
- Close monitoring with frequent prenatal visits and blood pressure checks
- Bed rest at home or in the hospital, depending on severity
- Medications to lower blood pressure and protect your organs
- Magnesium sulfate to prevent seizures if you have severe preeclampsia
- Corticosteroids to help your baby's lungs develop if early delivery is needed
- Early delivery, which is the only cure for preeclampsia
- Monitoring magnesium levels during treatment to prevent toxicity
- Postpartum monitoring, as symptoms can continue or develop after birth
- Low-dose aspirin starting early in pregnancy if you have high risk factors
- Managing underlying conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure
Concerned about Preeclampsia and Eclampsia? Get tested at Rite Aid.
- Simple blood draw at your nearest lab
- Results in days, not weeks
- Share results with your doctor
Frequently asked questions
Preeclampsia is high blood pressure with protein in urine during pregnancy. Eclampsia occurs when preeclampsia progresses to cause seizures. Eclampsia is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment. Not everyone with preeclampsia develops eclampsia, especially with proper monitoring and care.
Yes, preeclampsia can reduce blood flow to the placenta and limit nutrients to your baby. This may cause slow growth, low birth weight, or premature birth. Severe cases can lead to placental abruption, where the placenta separates early. With close monitoring and timely delivery, most babies do well.
Preeclampsia most commonly develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy, often in the third trimester. It can also appear earlier or even after delivery, typically within 48 hours of birth. Some cases develop up to 6 weeks postpartum. This is why monitoring continues after your baby is born.
Your healthcare provider will check your blood pressure and urine at every prenatal visit. If you have risk factors, you may need more frequent testing. Blood tests to check kidney function, liver enzymes, and magnesium levels help track your condition. Talk to your provider about the right testing schedule for your situation.
Not always. Mild preeclampsia near your due date may allow you to reach full term with close monitoring. Severe preeclampsia or signs of organ damage often require delivery to protect you and your baby. Your healthcare team weighs the risks and benefits based on your specific situation and how far along you are.
Magnesium sulfate is a medication given through an IV to prevent or treat seizures in severe preeclampsia or eclampsia. It is the most effective treatment for stopping eclamptic seizures. Your healthcare team monitors your magnesium blood levels during treatment to keep them in a safe range of 4 to 8 milligrams per deciliter.
Low-dose aspirin starting between 12 and 28 weeks of pregnancy can reduce your risk by about 15 to 20 percent if you have risk factors. Maintaining a healthy weight before pregnancy, managing blood pressure and diabetes, and attending all prenatal appointments also help. No method prevents preeclampsia entirely, but these steps lower your risk.
If you had preeclampsia in one pregnancy, you have about a 15 to 20 percent chance of developing it again. The risk is higher if you had severe preeclampsia or it developed early. Changing partners, waiting several years between pregnancies, or having chronic health issues can affect your risk. Talk to your doctor about prevention strategies for future pregnancies.
Women who had preeclampsia have a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure later in life. You may also have an increased risk of kidney disease and diabetes. These risks make it important to maintain healthy lifestyle habits and get regular checkups after pregnancy.
Yes, many women with preeclampsia can have vaginal deliveries. Your healthcare team considers how severe your condition is, how far along you are, and how you and your baby are doing. Severe preeclampsia or signs of distress may require a cesarean delivery. The goal is the safest delivery method for your specific situation.