Pre-eclampsia

Pre-eclampsia is a condition unique to pregnancy. Characteristically the mother develops high blood pressure and protein in the urine. It is more common in first pregnancies (or the first pregnancy by a new partner) and in women who had pre-eclampsia in a previous pregnancy.

Both the mother and the fetus can be affected by pre-eclampsia. The placenta may not function efficiently causing the fetal growth to be impaired and the amniotic fluid volume to be reduced. In some cases, pre-eclampsia can develop into eclampsia (convulsions caused as a result of changes in the brain) and left untreated, can be life threatening.

Monitoring for the early signs of pre-eclampsia is a major part of normal antenatal care.