What is the risk of preeclampsia to the mother?

Preeclampsia may affect the brain, kidneys, liver, lungs, placenta, or blood-clotting system. Severe high blood pressure can cause headache, visual symptoms, chest or upper abdominal pain, and breathlessness. In serious situations, complications can include seizures, stroke-like injury, fluid in the lungs, liver injury, kidney problems, or abnormal bleeding and clotting. These are reasons clinicians take symptoms and changing tests seriously; they are not a prediction that every person with preeclampsia will develop them.

The condition can remain after birth or first become apparent then. Postpartum checks and clear discharge instructions matter even if pregnancy monitoring was stable.

Attend monitoring appointments and take prescribed blood-pressure medicine exactly as directed. Your team may repeat urine and blood tests, assess reflexes and symptoms, monitor the baby, and recommend hospital observation when closer review is needed. If continuing the pregnancy becomes less safe, planned birth may be discussed through [Induction of Labour](/treatments/pregnancy-and-birth-care/induction-of-labour/) or [Caesarean Section](/treatments/pregnancy-and-birth-care/caesarean-section/). Do not rely on rest or home readings alone when symptoms are concerning.

Contact maternity services urgently for a severe headache that does not settle, blurred vision or flashing lights, pain under the ribs, sudden swelling of the face or hands, severe nausea or vomiting, shortness of breath, confusion, or feeling markedly unwell. A seizure, collapse, severe breathing difficulty, or heavy bleeding requires emergency help. Seek advice after birth as well as during pregnancy.

Ask which organs or test results need watching, how to measure blood pressure correctly, which symptoms mean immediate review, how long follow-up continues after birth, and what would trigger hospital care or delivery. Ask whether your [Antenatal Care Package](/treatments/pregnancy-and-birth-care/antenatal-care-package/) includes the monitoring you need.