nuhahyearlyLaunch pricing - Get £50 off!nuhahyearlyPre-eclampsia is characterised by high blood pressure and organ damage, usually developing after 20 weeks. Warning signs include severe headache, vision problems, pain below the ribs, and sudden swelling. If you have risk factors, low-dose aspirin from 12 weeks can reduce your risk. The only definitive treatment is delivery.
The exact cause is not fully understood, but it is thought to be related to problems with the placenta. The blood vessels that supply the placenta do not develop properly, leading to restricted blood flow. Pre-eclampsia is not caused by anything you did or did not do.
You are at higher risk if this is your first pregnancy, you had pre-eclampsia before, you have a family history of it, you are aged 40 or over, your BMI is 35 or above, you have chronic high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes, or an autoimmune condition, there has been a gap of 10 or more years since your last pregnancy, or you are carrying twins.
If you have one high-risk factor or two or more moderate-risk factors, NICE recommends low-dose aspirin (75 to 150mg) daily from 12 weeks until delivery.
Contact your maternity unit immediately if you experience a severe headache that does not go away with paracetamol, vision problems such as blurring, flashing lights, or seeing spots, pain just below the ribs (particularly on the right side), sudden swelling of the face, hands, or feet, feeling very unwell, or nausea or vomiting in the second half of pregnancy.
It is diagnosed when you have high blood pressure (140/90 mmHg or above on two occasions) combined with protein in your urine or other signs of organ involvement. A PlGF blood test may also be used to help confirm or rule out pre-eclampsia.
Mild pre-eclampsia may be monitored with more frequent appointments and blood pressure medication (usually labetalol). Moderate to severe cases may require hospital admission, medication to lower blood pressure, and magnesium sulphate to prevent seizures.
The only definitive treatment is delivery. The timing depends on severity: the goal is to prolong pregnancy with monitoring where possible, but severe cases may require early delivery.
Pre-eclampsia usually resolves within days to weeks after delivery. Having had pre-eclampsia increases your long-term cardiovascular risk. Your GP should monitor your blood pressure at annual check-ups.
Action on Pre-Eclampsia (APEC) provides information, support, and a helpline at action-on-pre-eclampsia.org.uk.
Milestones, partner sharing, notes, photos, and a curated essentials guide. Free, no app to install.
Get Started Free© 2026 Nuhah. All rights reserved.