Placenta and preeclampsia: what to know

The placenta connects you and your baby and supports the exchange of oxygen and nutrients. In pre-eclampsia, the way the placenta attaches and interacts with the blood supply can contribute to changes in the blood vessels. This may affect your blood pressure and the function of organs such as the kidneys and liver.

Monitoring may include repeated blood pressure checks, urine testing, blood tests, and ultrasound assessment of growth and blood flow. The condition can begin during pregnancy or after birth, so symptoms after delivery still deserve attention.

Attend antenatal appointments and take prescribed medicines as directed. Your maternity team may recommend closer observation, medication to lower blood pressure, or planning birth when that is safer for you or your baby. Depending on your findings and how far along the pregnancy is, induction of labour or caesarean section may be discussed.

Contact your maternity unit urgently for a severe headache that does not settle, changes in vision, pain beneath the ribs, sudden swelling of the face or hands, breathing difficulty, vomiting, confusion, or feeling very unwell. Reduced fetal movement also needs immediate assessment. Do not wait for a routine appointment when these symptoms appear.

Ask how often your blood pressure and urine need checking, whether your baby needs growth monitoring, which warning symptoms matter most, and how treatment could affect the timing or method of birth. Clarify which medicines are safe to continue after delivery.