Pre-eclampsia causes high blood pressure and protein in the urine. It is a common condition, affecting around 1 in 20 pregnancies. Sometimes it can affect pregnancies severely and early, and can be life threatening for you and your baby. It typically occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
It may cause no symptoms at all but the following can occur:
The only cure for pre-eclampsia is birth. Medication can control high blood pressure, and you can be closely monitored, but when pre-eclampsia occurs it persists until birth. In pregnancies at higher risk of pre-eclampsia, taking aspirin 150mg at night daily from 12 to 36 weeks reduces the chances of pre-eclampsia occurring. Pre-eclampsia, especially when it occurs early, is often associated with fetal growth restriction.
This is the medical term for when babies grow smaller than other babies. It usually occurs when there is an underlying placental problem. These babies are healthy and the placenta is still functioning, though the baby's blood supply may be limited, putting it at risk of poor growth.