Post-eclampsia causes: what to know

Eclampsia is a seizure linked to pre-eclampsia or severe hypertension in pregnancy. It can appear during labour or after delivery because blood pressure and the body’s fluid balance may remain unsettled in the postpartum period. A seizure may occur without a previously recognised diagnosis, so feeling well before the event does not rule out danger.

Headache that does not settle, visual changes, confusion, pain beneath the ribs, sudden swelling, nausea, or shortness of breath can accompany a serious blood-pressure problem. Other neurological conditions can also cause seizures, which is why assessment needs to be prompt.

Take prescribed blood-pressure medicine exactly as directed and attend postpartum checks. If you have a home monitor, record readings as your maternity team recommends, but do not delay help because a reading is unavailable. Rest, drink according to your clinician’s advice, and tell the team about headache, vision symptoms, chest discomfort, or new swelling.

After an eclamptic seizure, hospital care may include treatment to stop further seizures, blood-pressure control, monitoring, and tests to look for complications. The delivery method does not remove the need for postpartum observation; information about a Caesarean Section may be relevant to your birth history.

Call emergency services immediately for a seizure, loss of consciousness, severe or worsening headache, new vision changes, weakness, confusion, severe breathlessness, chest pain, or heavy bleeding after birth. Protect the person from injury, place them on their side if possible, and do not put anything in their mouth. Do not drive yourself to hospital.

Ask which blood-pressure symptoms should trigger an emergency call, how long monitoring is needed, whether medicines affect breastfeeding, and when your next blood-pressure review should occur.