Pre-eclampsia clinical features

Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy-related condition involving blood pressure and possible effects on organs such as the kidneys, liver, brain and placenta. A severe headache, visual disturbance, pain beneath the ribs, sudden swelling of the face or hands, nausea or vomiting, or feeling unusually unwell can be warning symptoms. These features need assessment because symptoms can overlap with ordinary pregnancy discomforts.

Antenatal checks look for raised blood pressure, protein in urine and changes in blood tests. Your maternity team may also assess the baby's growth, movement and wellbeing. A symptom is not a diagnosis: the pattern of blood pressure, urine, examination and laboratory findings guides the decision.

Contact your maternity team promptly if a new symptom appears, even if you feel otherwise well. Take your blood-pressure readings and medication list if you have them, and describe when the symptom began. Attend recommended antenatal appointments, where repeated checks can identify changes before you notice them.

Treatment depends on how far pregnancy has progressed and how you and the baby are doing. It may include closer monitoring, medicines to lower blood pressure, treatment to reduce seizure risk, or planning birth. Read more about [Antenatal Care Package](/treatments/pregnancy-and-birth-care/antenatal-care-package/).

Seek urgent maternity or emergency care for a severe or persistent headache, flashing lights or blurred vision, severe upper-abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, chest pain, a seizure, heavy bleeding, or markedly reduced baby movements. Do not wait for a routine appointment when these symptoms occur.

Ask which findings were abnormal, how often your blood pressure and urine should be checked, and which symptoms require immediate attendance. You can also ask how monitoring may affect the timing or method of birth.