Medications, monitoring, and early delivery may all be necessary to stop seizures or coma caused by eclampsia in pregnancy. It’s important to treat eclampsia quickly as it can be fatal to the birthing person or baby.

Approximately 5% to 7% of pregnancies are affected by preeclampsia, a pregnancy condition related to high blood pressure. Eclampsia, a rare but severe form of preeclampsia, can cause seizures or coma in pregnant people.

It’s important to take signs of this condition seriously, as eclampsia can be fatal to the birthing person and baby.

Eclampsia should be treated quickly. Treatment may involve medication, monitoring, and an early delivery. After you deliver, it’s important to continue monitoring blood pressure and related symptoms to ensure that eclampsia resolves.

In addition to the information below, read more about eclampsia.

Eclampsia is often related to worsening preeclampsia. If you have a prior history of preeclampsia or indicators of preeclampsia begin to develop in your pregnancy, your doctors may suggest a variety of monitoring techniques. These can include:

  • frequent blood pressure monitoring
  • urine samples to measure protein levels
  • blood tests to check liver and kidney health
  • ultrasound checks to monitor the baby’s growth

Your doctor may also recommend medications to help lower your blood pressure and reduce the risk of serious complications like strokes.

One sign that eclampsia has developed is seizures. These can be fatal for the birthing person or developing baby. If you’re actively seizing because of eclampsia, treatment for your eclampsia will need to begin with addressing your current seizure.

Treatment for seizures can include first aid and medications like magnesium sulfate. Intubation may be necessary to ensure sufficient oxygen flow. After the current seizure has stopped, continued monitoring for additional seizures is needed.

Delivery of the baby and placenta is required to treat preeclampsia, but the exact timing can vary depending on many factors, including the baby’s gestation and the severity of the symptoms you’re currently experiencing. Whether this delivery occurs through an induction or cesarean delivery will be determined based on the health of the birthing person and the developing baby.

If you’re more than 34 weeks pregnant, you’re likely to undergo delivery as soon as you’re stabilized enough to do so. If your pregnancy is not yet at 34 weeks, your doctor may recommend corticosteroids to help the baby’s lungs mature quickly. In many circumstances, though, there may not be time for this.

After delivery, doctors will continue monitoring your blood pressure and symptoms to ensure the eclampsia resolves. The risk for eclampsia is highest in the first 48 hours after giving birth, and you may be given magnesium sulfate for 12 to 24 hours after delivery.

You can develop a version of preeclampsia (postpartum preeclampsia) shortly after delivery, even if you did not experience high blood pressure during your pregnancy.

Eclampsia can be fatal to the birthing person and baby.

Other potential complications for the birthing person can include:

If you have preeclampsia, you’re at a greater risk of blood clots, strokes, and heart disease after giving birth. Eclampsia may also result in permanent damage to the kidneys, liver, or other organs.

In addition to its effects on the birthing person, eclampsia can impact the baby.

Before birth, eclampsia may lead to impaired fetal growth or stillbirth. Eclampsia may also lead to premature delivery and an increased likelihood of a prolonged hospital stay.

In the long term, early delivery or impaired fetal growth from eclampsia is associated with a higher risk of:

The management and monitoring of preeclampsia have improved, which has decreased the number of fatalities from eclampsia. However, eclampsia is still a critical condition.

Especially if preeclampsia occurs early in the pregnancy, the risk of long-term cardiovascular and kidney problems is higher after experiencing eclampsia. After having eclampsia, you’re also more likely to experience it in future pregnancies.

Eclampsia is a rare but severe pregnancy complication that can be fatal. Treatment for eclampsia may involve medications, monitoring, and an early delivery of the baby.

Your doctor will consider many factors, including your overall health and the length of your pregnancy, when determining whether immediate delivery is necessary.

Your doctor or midwife will check your blood pressure frequently during your pregnancy. Still, it’s essential to let them know if you notice swelling in your hands or face, headaches, or vision problems during pregnancy.

Your doctor will continue to monitor your symptoms and blood pressure after delivery to ensure that your eclampsia has resolved.