Eclampsia in Pregnancy (2026): Causes, Warning Signs, Emergency Treatment, Prevention & Maternal Outcomes:
Pregnancy is usually a time of anticipation and joy. However, certain complications can develop suddenly and threaten the lives of both mother and baby. Among the most serious obstetric emergencies is eclampsia, a condition characterized by seizures occurring in a pregnant or postpartum woman with preeclampsia.
By Dr. Humaira Latif, MBBS, Gynae/OBS Specialist:
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding any pregnancy-related concerns or medical emergencies.
Maternal and neonatal mortality rates have decreased globally due to advances in obstetric care; however, eclampsia continues to be a significant contributing factor to maternal and neonatal morbidity, especially in low- and middle-income countries. If women understand the warning signs, risk factors, emergency management techniques, and prevention measures related to eclampsia, they may be able to save lives and improve outcomes for pregnancy.
2. What Is Eclampsia?
Eclampsia is defined as the occurrence of one or more generalized seizures that occur in the presence of preeclampsia and cannot be explained by another neurological disorder.
Preeclampsia is a disorder of pregnancy that is characterized by:
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Presence of protein in the urine (proteinuria) or evidence of an organ-dysfunction
- Abnormalities with the placenta
- Damage to the maternal vascular system.
Once a woman has the seizure(s), her disorder now progresses to eclampsia, an event that requires a medical emergency with immediate treatment.
Table of Contents:
1. Introduction.
2. What Is Eclampsia?.
3. Eclampsia as a Medical Emergency.
4. Global Burden of Eclampsia.
5. How Eclampsia Develops.
6. Difference Between Gestational Hypertension, Preeclampsia, and Eclampsia.
7. Risk Factors for Eclampsia.
8. Early Warning Signs and Symptoms.
9. What Happens During an Eclamptic Seizure.
10. Maternal Complications.
11. Fetal and Neonatal Complications.
12. Postpartum Eclampsia.
13. Diagnosis of Eclampsia.
14. Emergency Management and Treatment.
15. Magnesium Sulfate Therapy.
16. Blood Pressure Control.
17. Planning for Delivery.
18. Intensive Care & Monitoring After Eclampsia.
19. Recovery After Eclampsia.
20. Long-Term Health Implications.
21. Prevention of Eclampsia.
22. Planning Future Pregnancy.
23. When To Seek Medical Care.
24. Frequently Asked Questions.
25. Related Articles.
26. References.
27. Disclaimer.
28. Author.
29. Free Downloadable Link "Eclampsia Pregnancy Safety Guide (2026): Early Warning Signs, Emergency Checklist & Doctor’s Action Plan."
3. The Importance of Eclampsia as an Urgent Medical Problem:
Eclampsia has the potential to create severe hazards for pregnant women because its onset is almost always unexpected, and seizures can happen at any time and with no prior warning.
Eclampsia can result in the following within minutes of a seizure:
- A decrease in the amount of oxygen available to the unborn baby
- Possible brain injury to the unborn baby
- Possible stroke in the mother
- Possible separation of the placenta from the uterus
- Possible cardiac arrest in the mother
- Possible distress for the baby.
Unlike many other complications of pregnancy, eclampsia can have a lethal effect on a mother within a very short time frame.
Clinical Pearl:
Many women who experience eclampsia report having severe headaches or other types of visual problems within several to 48 hours before their first seizure.
4. Global Burden of Eclampsia:
Although healthcare has improved worldwide, eclampsia remains a major cause of maternal mortality.
- Previous Eclampsia
- Previous severe Preeclampsia (another risk factor for future occurrences of Eclampsia)
- Chronic Hypertension
- Pedigree of Lupus (autoimmune disease)
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Antiphospholipid Syndrome
- Obesity
- Age (greater than 35 years)
- First Time Pregnancy
- Family History
- Diabetes
- Severe Headache.
- Persistent headache.
- Blurry vision.
- Flashing lights or “floaters.”
- Temporary Loss of Vision (blindness).
- Swelling of the Face
- Swelling of the Hands
- Sudden Weight Gain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Confusion
- Agitation
- Difficulty Breathing
- Seizures
- Twin Pregnancy.
- Triplet Pregnancy.
- IVF Conception.
- Molar Pregnancy.
- Fetal Growth Restriction.
- Stroke
- Brain Hemorrhage
- Long-term Neurologic Deficits
- Coma
- Heart Failure
- Pulmonary Edema
- Severe Hypertension
- Renal Complications:
- Acute Renal Failure
- Kidney Failure
- Hematologic Complications:
- Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
- Severe Thrombocytopenia
9. What Happens During an Eclamptic Seizure:
A eclamptic seizure is an unexpected period of disordered brain activity in a woman, either during or after a pregnancy, caused by eclampsia. Eclamptic seizures are typically generalised tonic-clonic seizures and can occur without warning, therefore making the diagnosis of eclampsia an obstetrical emergency that may place the patient and baby in systemic jeopardy.
During a seizure, both mother and baby may have a decrease in oxygen supply, thus placing both parties at risk of complications. Therefore, it is imperative to obtain immediate medical assistance.
Stages of an Eclamptic Seizure:
The progression of a typical eclamptic seizure progresses through four typical stages:
1. Loss of Consciousness.
The woman may suddenly lose her ability to respond and may not be aware of what is occurring around her.
2. Tonic Phase.
During this phase, the woman will have increased muscle tone and will demonstrate rigidity. There may also be a cessation of breathing and jaw clenching.
3. Clonic Phase.
The clonic phase of the eclamptic seizure will demonstrate rhythmical jerking movements in the arms, legs and body. The duration of this phase rarely exceeds two minutes.
4. Postictal Recovery.
After a seizure has ended, the woman will experience one or more of the following:
- Confusion
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Temporary memory loss
- Fatigue
Potential Complications.
An eclamptic seizure may lead to serious complications, including:
- Maternal injury secondary to falling
- Aspiration of gastric contents
- Decreased oxygen supply to the woman
- Placental abruption
- Fetal distress
- Stroke
- Coma in some instances
Important Note:
Warning signs include:
extreme headache, blurry vision, flickers of light, episodes of disorientation. These are commonly seen in a pregnant woman before she has a convulsion. Conversely, some individuals will develop seizures without prior indication. Therefore, careful monitoring throughout pregnancy is essential for identifying women at high risk for developing preeclampsia and providing them with timely medical intervention.
10. Maternal Complications:
Eclampsia is an acute healthcare emergency that involves a multi-organ system impact on the mother. With no treatment, life-threatening complications can occur and, in infrequent cases, result in mother dying. Additionally, if delay in diagnosis or treatment occurs, the chance of experiencing complications increases.
The following lists some of the more common maternal complications.
Neurological:
The brain is one of the organs that suffers the most from eclampsia. Neurological complications may include the following:
- Stroke
- Brain hemorrhage
- Cerebral edema
- Temporary or permanent blindness/vision loss
- Coma
- Cardiopulmonary
Severe hypertension and fluid shifts can cause organs to be impacted by cardiopulmonary problems;
cardiopulmonary complications may include:
- edema
- Difficulty breathing
- Heart failure
- Severe uncontrolled hypertension
Renal
Decreased perfusion to the kidneys could create renal problems. Renal complications may include:
- Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)
- Decreased urine output
- Electrolyte imbalances
- Rarely, acute renal failure
Hepatic:
When the liver is involved, hepatic complications may result in:
- Elevated liver enzymes
- Severe pain in the upper abdomen
- Liver bleeding (rare)
- HELLP Syndrome.
Hematological:
Eclampsia may affect normal coagulation physiology by creating:
- Thrombocytopenic
- Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)
- Increased risk of bleeding
Summary of Possible Maternal Complications by Organ System:
11. Fetal and Neonatal Complications.
Eclampsia is a life-threatening condition for a woman that can also directly affect an unborn child. The decrease of blood supply and oxygen due to the eclamptic condition limits the oxygen and nutrients available to support the developing fetus. If eclampsia progresses to severe symptoms, an emergency or preterm delivery may be needed to save both the wife's and the child's lives.
Fetal Complications during pregnancy:
Fetal Growth Restriction (FGR):
A decrease in the blood supply to the placenta may cause the child to not grow to its normal size.
Fetal Distress:
During the mother's eclamptic seizure, the baby may experience a lack of oxygen for a short time, which may cause signs of fetal distress and necessitate immediate medical attention.
Placental Abruption:
Women who have eclampsia have a higher risk of developing placental abruption. This is a serious complication where the placenta separates from the uterus before delivery. In addition to the risk to the mother's health and life, the baby is at risk of having decreased oxygen supply due to hemorrhage.
Preterm:
The delivery of women with severe eclampsia is commonly accomplished early. An early delivery of a child increases the chances of being born early and/or having other complications due to the lack of appropriate pregnancy time.
Neonatal Complications after delivery:
Premature babies, or babies born to mothers who have eclamptic conditions, may be at a higher risk for several health-related challenges, including the following:
- Low birth weight
- Difficulties with breathing
- Difficulties with feeding
- Inability to maintain a stable temperature
- Need for admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
- Increased risk of infection.
12. Postpartum Eclampsia:
Although you might think that once you've had your baby there's no longer any chance you'll develop eclampsia, this is not true. After you've given birth, you can still develop an eclamptic condition known as postpartum or postnatal eclampsia. While postpartum eclampsia is less frequently diagnosed than antepartum eclampsia, it is still considered a serious medical emergency that needs to be addressed immediately.
Typically, most women who experience postpartum eclampsia will do so within the first 48 hours after giving birth.
However, in some cases, the onset of postpartum eclampsia can occur up to six (6) weeks following delivery.
Some women may experience seizures as the first symptom of postpartum eclampsia, even if they did not experience preeclampsia during their pregnancy and had no other signs of it at the time.
Signs and Symptoms of Postpartum Eclampsia:
Women who have recently given birth and are experiencing any of the following symptoms should seek emergency medical attention right away:
- Unusual or extreme headache
- Blurry vision or vision changes
- Increased blood pressure
- Swelling of the face, hands, arms, or feet
- Trouble breathing
- Vomiting or nausea
- Confusion or different state of mind
- Seizure
The Importance of Ongoing Postpartum Monitoring
Just because you successfully had a baby, doesn't mean your blood pressure will return to normal and/or that the hypertension you had while pregnant is gone. Any woman with a history of preeclampsia, pre-gestational hypertension, or postpartum eclampsia should attend all of her postpartum doctor's appointments for evaluation and continue taking blood pressure checks as directed by her doctor.
New mothers should never ignore severe headaches, changes to their eyesight, and any other symptom that could be associated with developing postpartum eclampsia.
13. Diagnosis of Eclampsia:
The diagnosis of eclampsia is primarily clinical. It occurs when a woman has one or more seizures without another identifiable cause, who is either currently pregnant or has delivered in the preceding 6 weeks, and is usually associated with pre-eclampsia, defined by elevated blood pressure and signs of end-organ dysfunction.
Providers will use a variety of diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis and to estimate the severity of illness. These include:
- Assessments of blood pressure
- Protein in urine (urinalysis for protein)
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Liver and kidney function tests
- Electrolytes
Fetal well-being is assessed by:
- Ultrasound
- Fetal heart rate
- Doppler studies if necessary
In certain cases, brain imaging (CT/MRI) may be necessary to rule out any potential cause for seizures (has neurological symptoms) prior to finalizing the diagnosis.
Important NOTE:
Any seizure taking place during pregnancy or within six weeks after childbirth should be regarded as eclampsia until there is clear evidence to the contrary. Early diagnosis and treatment are important for minimizing complications for both mother and child.
14. Emergency Management and Treatment:
Eclampsia is a severe life-threatening obstetric medical emergency that always requires immediate hospitalization and available collaboration between healthcare professionals to safely provide care to both mother and baby. The main priorities of the plan for treating eclampsia include:
• Stabilization of the mother.
• Prevention of further seizures.
• Maintenance of stable maternal blood pressure.
• Safety/health assessments of the unborn baby.
Immediate Management Priorities:
• Maintain an open airway and adequate ventilation for the mother.
• Position the mother on her left side to allow for improved blood flow to the uterus and reduce the risk of aspiration.
• Monitor the mother’s vital signs and oxygen saturation continuously.
• Establish venous access for medications (i.e. magnesium sulfate, antihypertensive agents) and IV fluids.
Medical Management:
Magnesium sulfate is the first-line agent used for controlling and preventing further seizures associated with eclampsia. Severe hypertension, related to the mother being in eclamptic condition, may also require antihypertensive medications (i.e. labetalol, hydralazine, or nifedipine) until blood pressure stabilizes.
Delivery Management:
After the mother’s condition has been stabilized, the definitive treatment for eclampsia is delivery. The timing and method of delivery are based on several factors, including:
• Maternal condition.
• Gestational age.
• Fetal well-being.
Primary Point:
Prompt identification and treatment of eclampsia may help reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity/mortality. Every seizure in a pregnant/postpartum woman should be treated as an emergent medical situation requiring immediate medical attention.
15. Magnesium Sulfate Therapy:
Magnesium sulfate is a life-saving, first-line treatment for controlling and preventing seizures due to eclampsia. It is considered the gold standard of emergency obstetric care because it greatly reduces both the risk of subsequent seizures and the risk of maternal complications.
By stabilizing the central nervous system, decreasing excitability of neurons, and providing protection from seizure activity, magnesium sulfate has not been shown to lower blood pressure, but is used specifically for the prevention of seizures while Hypertensive medication is for the treatment of hypertension.
Administration Methods:
Intravenous (IV) or intramuscularly (IM), followed by a Morphine-like loading dose and routine maintenance doses.
Administration of magnesium sulfate requires strict monitoring in a hospital.
Observations of the patient while being treated will include:
- Deep tendon reflexes
- Respiratory Rate
- Urine Output
- Serum Magnesium Levels (if necessary)
Side Effects of Magnesium Sulfate:
- Flushing/Warmth
- Nausea
- Muscle weakness
- Rarely, Respiratory Depression (in overdose situations)
Conclusion:
Administered by trained, skilled medical professionals in a hospital setting, magnesium sulfate is the most effective drug at preventing the death of See women due to eclampsia.
16. Blood Pressure Control:
Effective management of eclampsia includes controlling blood pressure, which is an important factor in determining risk of stroke and complications for mothers. High blood pressure increases risk of these issues and therefore blood pressure management should be undertaken with the use of antihypertensive medications, along with magnesium sulphate to stabilize the mother and reduce morbidity.
A primary objective when managing blood pressure is to reduce levels to a safe range without compromising fetal perfusion through blood flow. Both rapid and excessive reductions in blood pressure are avoided due to risk of reducing oxygen delivery to the fetus.
Antihypertensive Medications Commonly Utilized for Eclampsia:
1. Labetalol (IV or oral): Commonly used first line in many emergency situations
2.Hydralazine (IV): Used for immediate control of blood pressure
3. Nifedipine (oral): Used for both acute and chronic management of blood pressure control
Blood Pressure Monitoring During Treatment
Patients should be closely monitored for:
- blood pressure trends (frequent monitoring of BP)
- fetal heart rate monitoring
- urine output monitoring
- neurologic examination
Key Clinical Point:
Blood pressure control is not a cure for eclampsia, but provides stability for the mother until safe definitive therapy (delivery) can be planned, with early intervention leading to improved maternal and fetal outcomes.
17. Planning for Delivery;
Eclampsia can only be effectively treated by giving birth since the placenta is at the root cause of the problem. Careful planning will be required when determining when to deliver and how to deliver (e.g. vaginally or via c-section) as the mother's stability, gestational age and fetus' condition should be taken into consideration before your final decision.
Timing of Delivery:
After the mother is medically stable using magnesium sulfate and her blood pressure has been controlled, the healthcare provider will determine whether it is medically necessary to immediately deliver the baby. In most cases, once diagnosed with eclampsia delivery should take place right away, especially if the woman is close to term or the health of the mother is deteriorating.
Mode of Delivery :
Deciding whether a vaginal birth or c-section will be based mainly on obstetric factors:
1. Vaginal birth should be chosen if cervix is favorable for labor.
2. C-section should be chosen if fetal distress is noted, there has been no successful labor induction or to deliver immediately due to other maternal reasons.
Additional Considerations:
- Continuously monitor both fetal and maternal well-being throughout labor
- Access to intensive care support
- No recurrent seizures for the mother during labor
- Newly born is ready for pre-term delivery
Final Note:
Careful and individualized plans to deliver the baby will ensure both mother and child's outcomes are at their best with the least possibility of having complications as a result of eclampsia.
18. Intensive Care & Monitoring After Eclampsia:
After delivery, eclamptic women should be monitored closely due to the high risk of complications until stable and delivered; this means that women with eclampsia will need to be monitored closely in an HDU or ICU environment. Gold standard for monitoring includes but is not limited to:
1. Frequent measuring of blood pressures (15-60 minutes)
2. Continuous measurement of oxygen saturation and respiratory rate
3. Monitoring the neurological status (level of consciousness, reflexes, headache)
4. Strict measurement of fluid and urine output
6. Monitoring for recurrent seizures
7. Continued Medication Management
Maternal magnesium sulfate will generally continue for 24 hours after the last seizure or delivery Prep Maternal antihypertensive drugs adjusted based on trends of BP Mg therapy will be tightly controlled to avoid fluid overload and pulmonary edema.
Laboratory and Organ Monitoring :
- Renal function tests (creatinine and urine output)
- Hepatic function tests Platelet count and Coagulation profile Electrolytes if clinically indicated.
Clinical Consideration;
The highest risk period of time for maternal complications (e.g. recurrent seizure, stroke, pulmonary edema) will occur in the first 24 to 48 hours post-delivery; Therefore, the implementation of HDU or ICU care will provide the greatest reduction in maternal mortality while allowing for optimal recovery.
19. Recovery After Eclampsia.
The process of recovering from eclampsia is not fast (i.e. gradual) and will extend beyond the time the woman has left the hospital. Many women will be stable within a few days after childbirth and receiving treatment; however the complete physical and emotional recovery may take a few weeks to several months depending on how serious the eclampsia was and if she experienced any other types of complications.
1. Physical Recovery:
After having delivered a baby, during the early postpartum period, the focus will be on stabilizing the woman’s blood pressure and making sure her organs are functioning normally. Some areas of this focus are:
1. Blood pressure will start to gradually come back down to normal; however, it is possible this will remain elevated temporarily
2. The kidneys and liver will begin to recover from the acute stress put on them.
3. Fluid imbalance will be resolved and edema will be decreased or gone
5. Delayed complications will continue to be monitored. Some women may develop recurrent hypertension or seizures and will continue to require medications for several weeks or possibly longer.
2. Neurological Recovery:
After having suffered one or more seizures, several temporary neurological symptoms will be experienced such as: headache, fatigue, memory loss or confusion and/or mild confusion. These symptoms will typically improve over time, however if they go on for an extended length of time, then the individual may need additional testing/evaluation.
3. Emotional/Psychological Recovery
Because eclampsia is such a life-threatening event, it can be a traumatic experience. Therefore, many women report experiencing: anxiety about possible future pregnancies, emotional stress resulting from postpartum, sleep disturbances, and fear of having another seizure/eclampsia. Support, educational reassurance, and counseling are all essential components to an individual’s long term recovery from eclampsia.
Important Point:
Recovery after eclampsia includes recovery not only physically, but also emotionally. Intensive follow up care or evaluation of blood pressure and all other symptoms will be required for an extended related reason after a woman has suffered an episode of eclampsia.
20. Long-Term Health Implications:
Not only is eclampsia an urgent obstetric ameliorative; it can also be an indicator for future cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Those receiving treatment for eclampsia as well as those whom recover completely enduring lengthy health implications from illnesses or conditions arising prior to eclampsia.
Cardiovascular Disease Risk:
The longest standing long-term effect eclampsia has on the woman is a high incidence of developing cardiovascular disease. Through the years and studies they show very high rates of:
- Chronic Hypertension
- Ischemic Heart Disease
- Stroke
- Heart Failure
These risks are a function of underlying endothelial dysfunction and injury continue even though the woman has completed the postpartum excursion.
Renal Impacts:
Women can develop long-term element related. disease such as:
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
- Persistent reduction in kidney function
- Micro albuminuria within 5 years
Consequently, women who receive an accurate assessment received considerations related to their long-term development of chronic diseases.
Metabolic/Endocrine Risks:
Women are more likely to have:
- Insulin resistance
- Type II diabetes
- Metabolic syndrome
- Complications associated with obesity
- Reproductive Health Impacts
- Women who conceive carry a higher risk of:
- Recurrent preeclampsia or eclampsia
- Preterm delivery
- Small for gestational age
- Placental insufficiency
Key Clinical Message:
Eclampsia is a lifelong risk factor for patient's cardiovascular diseases and not simply an isolated event within the parachute. Long term postpartum follow-up,reduction of risk behaviors, as well as routine measures such as blood pressure, renal function and metabolic health monitoring are necessary to evaluate for developing cardiovascular disease.
21. Prevention of Eclampsia:
The best way to prevent the development of eclampsia is with early identification and effective management of preeclampsia. The prevention of eclampsia focuses on identifying and assessing risk; receiving regular antenatal care; and obtaining timely medical intervention prior to the development of seizures.
Early Antenatal Care.
The basis of any effective prevention strategy is having regular prenatal visits. Early booking occurs prior to 14 weeks gestation and allows clinicians to:
- Detect elevated blood pressure early.
- Monitor urine for protein.
- Assess fetal growth and assess for placental function.
- Identify a high-risk pregnancy.
Risk Based Prevention Strategies. Some women with a higher risk of developing eclampsia may benefit from risk-based targeted interventions, which include: Taking low-dose aspirin (doses of 75-150 mg daily) starting in early pregnancy as recommended by the appropriate clinical guideline.
1. Calcium supplementation for women in populations with low dietary intake of calcium.
2. Closer maternal and fetal monitoring.
Lifestyle and Health Optimization. Preventive care includes general health measures such as:
1. Maintaining a healthy weight prior to becoming pregnant.
2. Controlling pre-existing health conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.
3. Eating a well-balanced diet and remaining properly hydrated.
4. Avoiding use of tobacco and/or illegal substances.
5. Monitoring Blood Pressure.
Early identification of rising blood pressure is critical. Early detection of preeclampsia generally results from home monitoring of blood pressure or frequent blood pressure checks at a prenatal clinic.
The Most Important Clinical Point to Keep in Mind is that To Date,
There is No 100% Guaranteed Method to Prevent Eclampsia from Occurring;
However; by Early Detection and Proper Management of Preeclampsia, There Has Been Significant Reduction in the Risk of Developing Seizures.
22. Planning Future Pregnancy:
Eclampsia history in women requires careful pre conceptual consultation prior to trying for another pregnancy. This is needed due to the higher incidence of recurrence and obstetric complications than will occur in the general population.
Preconceive Assessment,:
A thorough evaluation of your medical history should be done prior to your next conception.
The assessment must include:
- Measuring and controlling blood pressure.
- Testing to determine kidney function (e.g., serum creatinine, urine protein).
- Testing for liver function, if previously tested to confirm normal liver function.
- Testing for any chronic hypertension and/or metabolic disorders that may be present.
- Assessing the current medication usage for their safety during pregnancy.
Risk Reduction Strategies:
In order to reduce the risk of recurrence during your next pregnancy, the clinician may suggest:
1. Beginning low-dose aspirin prophylactically early in pregnancy (according to recommendations).
2. Taking calcium supplements if dietary intake of calcium is low.
3. Careful monitoring of blood pressure throughout your pregnancy.
4. Early and frequent prenatal visits.
5. Lifestyle Optimization
6. Achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
7. Control your diabetes and/or thyroid disorder if present.
8. Consume a balanced diet containing plenty of fruits, vegetables, and protein.
9. Avoid smoking and being sedentary.
Pregnancy Surveillance:
Future pregnancies will typically be monitored as higher-risk pregnancies, including:
- Obtaining early ultrasound examination of your pregnancy to evaluate your gestational age and confirm fetal heart activity.
- Performing fetal measurements to determine fetal growth.
- Performing Doppler studies, if indicated.
- Close follow-up of the mother's blood pressure.
Key Clinical Point:
With good planning and close medical follow-up by the physician, most women with previous eclampsia can accomplish successful pregnancies in the future health of the mother and fetus.
23. When To Seek Medical Care:
A woman should seek medical attention if she has any warning signs during pregnancy, including:
1. A severe headache that doesn't go away
2. Blurry vision, bright spots, or a temporary loss of vision
3. A sudden increase in swelling of the face, hands, or feet
4. Severe pain in the upper abdomen, especially the right side
5. Excessive or prolonged vomiting or nausea during late pregnancy
6. Little or no movement from the fetus
7. At-home blood pressure of 140/90 or above
If a woman has any of the following symptoms, she should be admitted to the hospital immediately:
1. Seizures or convulsions
2. Loss of consciousness
3. Significant difficulty breathing
4. Confusion or altered mental status
5. Aches or signs of a stroke
In the weeks after giving birth, a woman should seek immediate medical assistance for:
1. A severe headache following delivery
2. An extremely high blood pressure reading
3. Any eye problems
4. Worsening swelling
5. Having any type of seizure
Key Point:
A woman who experiences any seizure at any time during or within six weeks after childbirth is considered to be in a medical emergency until that situation has been ruled out. A woman should seek medical care as soon as possible after presenting to the hospital and will be treated quickly in order to maintain the health of both the mother and the fetus.
24. Frequently Asked Questions?
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