As this is a pregnancy problem, it will stop when baby is born (or soon after).

We keep checking your blood pressure, urine and blood for a few days to make
sure everything is returning to normal.

Womens Health Division

Women with pre eclampsia should not birth at the community birthing units
(Pukekohe, Papakura and Botany Downs) or have early discharge home
following the birth.
When you do go home a midwife will visit you to make sure all is well. Some
women need to keep taking tablets to control blood pressure for a while. Make
sure you are at home for these important checks.
Because you have had pre-eclampsia, it is important that you have antenatal
care in any future pregnancy and tell your lead maternity carer (LMC) what
happened.

For more information on pre eclampsia talk to your LMC.

Useful Websites
NZ Action on Pre-eclampsia www.nzapec.com
UK action on Pre-eclampsia www.apec.org.uk
Trauma and Birth Stress Support Group www.tabs.org.nz

Department: Womens Health

Approved by: Director of
Midwifery
Document Owner: C Kirby

Updated: July 2010

Review: July 2012

Pre eclampsia

Information for
Pregnant Women

What is it?

Pre-eclampsia is a serious condition caused by pregnancy. It usually shows up

as high blood pressure and protein in the urine but it affects many other parts
of the body too. It may cause headaches, blurred vision and upper abdominal
pain.
It is more common late in pregnancy but can happen from as early as 20
weeks.
You may also hear of pre-eclampsia being called toxaemia, PET (pre-eclamptic
toxaemia), GPH (Gestational Proteinuric Hypertension) or (PIH) Pregnancy
Induced Hypertension).

What happens to my baby?

The increased blood pressure and the way the pre-eclampsia affects your whole
body will affect your placenta (afterbirth or whenua).
This can slow your babys growth making baby small for dates.
Sometimes causes early separation of the placenta from the wall of the
uterus or womb (placental abruption).
Because this condition can make you really unwell, your baby might need to be
born early because you are too unwell to carry on with your pregnancy.
Early (premature) babies and small babies might need care in the neonatal unit
after birth.

What causes it?

How is pre eclampsia treated?

What happens to me?

Blood pressure can be treated with tablets. It is often possible to stay at home
with regular checks of blood pressure and urine. Regular ultrasound scans are
used to make sure baby is growing.

Your symptoms may include:

A rise in blood pressure
Protein in your urine
Headaches
Blurring of the vision - perhaps spots before your eyes
Lots of swelling of hands, feet and face
Pain in your upper abdomen under your ribs/in the middle of your
chest.

Sometimes we bring women into hospital. We are trying to keep you well so
that your baby does not have to be born too early. If you are admitted to
hospital, you will have:

The exact cause is not known and there have been lots of ideas about this.
What we do know is how it affects you and your baby.

You may not feel any different that is why it is important to have regular
blood pressure (BP) and urine checks during your pregnancy.

Nausea (feeing sick) and feeling generally unwell

Pre-eclampsia that is not treated can lead to convulsions (fits) in severe cases.
This is then called eclampsia and is not common but is life threatening.

Treatment depends on what symptoms you have. You might be advised to take
things easy.

BP every 4 hours
Urine tests each day
Blood tests
Monitoring of baby CTGs (monitor on your tummy) and ultrasound
scans
Medication may be required to lower the blood pressure
Rest is encouraged this is often easier when in hospital