How common is severe abdominal pain in pregnancy in pre-eclampsia?

With pre-eclampsia, pain may be felt beneath the ribs, particularly on the right side, or high in the abdomen. It may reflect irritation or pressure involving the liver and can occur alongside a severe headache, vision changes, sudden swelling, nausea, vomiting, or feeling very unwell.

The symptom pattern does not confirm pre-eclampsia on its own. A clinician needs to check your blood pressure, urine, symptoms, and sometimes blood tests to assess your health and the baby's wellbeing. Other pregnancy-related and non-pregnancy-related problems can also cause severe abdominal pain.

Contact your maternity unit, obstetric team, or urgent medical service now if the pain is severe, persistent, or new, especially after mid-pregnancy. Tell them that you are pregnant, where the pain is, when it started, and whether you have headache, visual symptoms, bleeding, reduced fetal movement, or vomiting.

Do not wait for a routine appointment or rely on a home blood-pressure reading to decide that assessment is unnecessary. While arranging care, rest in a comfortable position and take only medicines that your maternity clinician has said are suitable for you.

Seek emergency help immediately for severe or worsening pain, fainting, trouble breathing, heavy bleeding, a seizure, confusion, chest pain, or a severe headache or vision change. Contact your maternity service urgently for reduced fetal movement, repeated vomiting, or pain under the ribs that does not settle.

Pre-eclampsia can become serious for the pregnant person and baby, so urgent review matters even when you are unsure whether the pain is related. If you cannot reach your maternity team, use local emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department.

You could ask: Could this pain be related to pre-eclampsia or another condition? What were my blood-pressure and urine results? Do I need blood tests or monitoring of the baby? Which symptoms should prompt me to return immediately? Who should I contact outside clinic hours?