Late pre-eclampsia: what to know

Pre-eclampsia involves high blood pressure and signs that pregnancy is affecting organs such as the kidneys or liver. It can appear late in pregnancy and, sometimes, after delivery. A person may have no obvious symptoms, which is why antenatal checks measure blood pressure and test urine. Warning symptoms can include a persistent headache, flashing lights or blurred vision, sudden swelling, breathlessness, nausea, or pain beneath the ribs.

The condition can worsen quickly and may affect both parent and baby. A maternity team may check blood pressure repeatedly, blood and urine results, the baby's growth, and blood flow or wellbeing.

Contact your maternity unit or obstetric team immediately if you have warning symptoms, even if a recent check was normal. Keep scheduled antenatal appointments and take prescribed medicines exactly as directed. Treatment may involve observation, blood-pressure medicine, steroids when appropriate, and planning birth when continuing the pregnancy is less safe. The plan depends on your symptoms, test results, pregnancy stage, and the baby's condition.

Get emergency maternity advice for a severe or persistent headache, visual disturbance, severe pain under the ribs, sudden breathlessness, confusion, collapse, or a seizure. After birth, do not dismiss these symptoms as ordinary recovery. Call emergency services for collapse, seizure, severe breathing difficulty, or a rapidly worsening condition.

Ask what your blood pressure and urine results show, how the baby will be monitored, which symptoms require immediate return, and how birth timing may be decided. Clarify medicines, follow-up after delivery, and who to contact outside clinic hours.