--- title: "Pre-eclampsia and high blood pressure in pregnancy" description: "Why blood pressure and urine checks matter, symptoms that need urgent help, and care during pregnancy and after birth. Includes when to get help." url: "https://myruva.co/learn/pre-eclampsia" language: "en-GB" topic: "Pregnancy" published: "2026-10-18" updated: "2026-10-19" author: "Ruva team" reading_minutes: 4 --- # Pre-eclampsia and high blood pressure in pregnancy Why blood pressure and urine checks matter, symptoms that need urgent help, and care during pregnancy and after birth. Includes when to get help. *Written and reviewed by the Ruva team · Updated 2026-10-19 · Pregnancy* ## Key points - Pre-eclampsia may be found at routine checks before you feel unwell. - A severe headache, changes to your eyesight and pain below the ribs need checking straight away. - Pre-eclampsia can start for the first time after birth. - Only take aspirin to prevent pre-eclampsia if your clinician advises it. Pre-eclampsia can be found at an antenatal appointment before you feel unwell. Blood pressure and urine checks help pick up changes you may not notice yourself. Keep going to these appointments, even when you feel well. ## Symptoms to act on immediately Call 999 now (UK) or 911 (US), or your local emergency number, if you or someone with you has a new seizure (fit), sudden drooping of the face, arm weakness or trouble speaking, or severe difficulty breathing with gasping or not being able to get words out. Call your maternity unit now in the UK, your obstetric clinician or maternity hospital in the US, or your doctor or midwife elsewhere if you have a severe headache that won’t go away, blurred vision or flashing lights, pain below the ribs, sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet, new difficulty breathing, or feel very unwell. These symptoms need checking straight away, during pregnancy and after birth. The NHS also lists vomiting, and heartburn that doesn’t settle with heartburn medicine, as symptoms. In the UK, call 111 if you’ve recently given birth or can’t reach your maternity unit. Don’t wait for your next routine appointment to report these symptoms. ## How it differs from high blood pressure alone High blood pressure is also called hypertension. Some people have it before pregnancy, and others get it during pregnancy. Pre-eclampsia is a separate, serious condition. It involves high blood pressure and also affects other parts of the body. It usually happens after 20 weeks, though the NHS says it can happen earlier. Protein in your urine is a common sign. But RCOG explains that the liver, kidneys or blood clotting can be affected even without protein in the urine. Your clinician looks at all the results of the check together. Pre-eclampsia can affect how well the placenta works and slow the baby’s growth. Severe illness can cause seizures, a stroke, or problems with the liver and blood. That’s why both symptoms and routine checks matter. ## What assessment and treatment involve If your midwife or doctor thinks you may have pre-eclampsia, you’ll usually be sent to hospital. Checks can include blood tests and ultrasound scans of the baby’s growth, as well as blood pressure and urine checks. Your care depends on how unwell you are, how far along your pregnancy is and how the baby is doing. Some people are checked closely without staying in hospital. Others need to stay in. Treatment can include medicine to lower blood pressure and, for severe illness, medicine to prevent seizures. Your doctor can explain the medicines you’re offered. Sometimes it’s safer for the baby to be born early, because carrying on with the pregnancy carries greater risks. The options may include induction or a caesarean. Ask what the team is worried about, how soon a decision is needed, and what each option means for you and your baby. ## Ask your clinician about aspirin Your clinician checks your risk factors. These include pre-eclampsia in a past pregnancy, high blood pressure you already have, kidney disease and diabetes. Some people may be advised to take aspirin to lower their risk. Only take it for this if your midwife or doctor advises it. Ask your prescriber about the plan for you. If you already take prescribed blood pressure medicine, don’t stop it without talking to your doctor. Tell the prescriber you’re pregnant so they can review your treatment. ## Keep up with checks after birth Symptoms usually get better after the baby is born. But problems can carry on, and pre-eclampsia can start for the first time after birth. You may still need blood pressure medicine and regular checks after you leave hospital. If symptoms happen, follow the urgent and emergency advice above, even if you’ve already gone home. Before you leave hospital, ask for a written care plan. NICE recommends that the plan says who will give your follow-up care, how often your blood pressure needs checking, and which symptoms to look out for. Ask who to call with worries, and how the maternity team will share the plan with your GP or family doctor. Go to the follow-up appointment your team recommends. Having had pre-eclampsia is linked with a higher risk of high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease later in life. Tell your GP or family doctor you had pre-eclampsia so they can take it into account in your care. ## When to get help - **Emergency:** Call 999 now (UK) or 911 (US), or your local emergency number, if you or someone with you has a new seizure (fit), sudden drooping of the face, arm weakness or trouble speaking, or severe difficulty breathing with gasping or not being able to get words out. - **Same day:** Call your maternity unit now (UK), your obstetric clinician or maternity hospital (US), or your doctor or midwife elsewhere for a severe headache that won’t go away, problems with your eyesight, pain below the ribs, sudden swelling of the face or hands, new difficulty breathing, or feeling very unwell, during pregnancy or after birth. In the UK, call 111 if you can’t reach maternity care or have recently given birth. - **Book an appointment:** After pre-eclampsia, arrange follow-up with your GP or maternity team (UK), obstetric clinician (US), or local doctor to check your blood pressure and talk about your future health. ## Where you live Services and advice differ between countries. - **UK:** NHS advice is to call maternity care urgently for symptoms in pregnancy. Call 111 after a recent birth or if you can’t reach maternity care. - **US:** ACOG recommends blood pressure checks at prenatal visits, and going through any blood pressure medicines with your obstetric clinician. - **Elsewhere:** Elsewhere, ask your maternity service about blood pressure checks and how to get an urgent check during pregnancy and after birth. ## Sources 1. [Pre-eclampsia](https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-our-patient-information/pre-eclampsia/), RCOG 2. [Pre-eclampsia](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pre-eclampsia/), NHS 3. [Preeclampsia and High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy](https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/preeclampsia-and-high-blood-pressure-during-pregnancy), ACOG 4. [Recommendations | Hypertension in pregnancy: diagnosis and management | Guidance | NICE](https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng133/chapter/recommendations), NICE 5. [Epilepsy](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/epilepsy/), NHS 6. [Symptoms of a stroke](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stroke/symptoms/), NHS 7. [Shortness of breath](https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/shortness-of-breath/), NHS 8. [Recognizing medical emergencies](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001927.htm), MedlinePlus --- This guide is general information to help you keep and use your own records. It isn’t medical advice. If you’re worried about a symptom, or something changes suddenly, talk to a doctor, nurse or pharmacist.