Introduction

• If you have any questions about your health or your baby's health.
• If you experience severe or persistent headaches or any visual disturbances, such as double vision or seeing spots. (This may be a warning sign that preeclampsia could progress to eclampsia.)
• If you measure your own blood pressure and it is greater than or equal to 160/110 mm Hg, call your doctor immediately!
• If you have severe pain in the middle of your belly or on the right side of your belly under your ribs. (This may be a warning sign that preeclampsia is worsening.)
• If you notice any unusual bruising or bleeding.
• If you experience excessive swelling or weight gain.
• If your baby's movements have slowed down.
• If you have any vaginal bleeding or cramping.

Follow-up

Just as there were no tests to predict or prevent eclampsia, there are no tests to predict whether preeclampsia or eclampsia will recur in a subsequent pregnancy. Unfortunately, in a small number of women, preeclampsia and/or eclampsia will recur. This chance seems to increase if preeclampsia or eclampsia was particularly severe or occurred very early in the pregnancy (late second trimester or early third trimester). Although there are no tests to predict this occurring, you should be followed more closely during a subsequent pregnancy.

Although there is limited experience in the use of birth control pills by women who have had preeclampsia or eclampsia, the evidence suggests that birth control pills are a safe and valuable means of birth control.

Outlook

Most women will have positive outcomes for their pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia or eclampsia. Some women may continue to have issues with their blood pressure and will need close monitoring after delivery.

Most babies will do well. Babies born prematurely will usually stay in the hospital longer. A general guideline is to expect the baby to stay in the hospital until their due date.

Unfortunately, a few women and babies experience life-threatening complications from preeclampsia or eclampsia.