Eclampsia is a term that describes a type of convulsion or fit (involuntary contraction of that pregnant women can experience), usually from week 20 of the pregnancy or immediately after the birth. In the UK, there is an estimated 1 case for every 4,000 pregnancies.

If you are diagnosed with Pre-eclampsia you and your baby should be monitored in hospital. There will be many tests done regularly to make sure that your medication is helping and that your baby is developing without more worry.

In Pre-Eclampsia, the placenta does not get enough blood to support the growing baby. The placenta needs a large and constant supply of blood from the mother and if the placenta did not develop properly as it was forming during the first half of the pregnancy this may be the cause. The problem with the placenta means that the blood supply between mother and baby is disrupted. Signals from the damaged placenta affect the mother’s blood vessels, causing high blood pressure (hypertension). At the same time, problems in the kidneys may cause valuable proteins that should remain in the mother’s blood to leak into her urine, resulting in protein in the urine (proteinuria).