It is not until pre-eclampsia becomes severe that a woman will actually start complaining of side affects, or feeling unwell. This is usually when the blood pressure becomes very high, about 160 / 100 to 170 / 110 mmHg (but this may vary with the individual). Pre-eclampsia has a tendency to become more severe over time. The earlier in the pregnancy a woman develops pre-eclampsia, the higher the potential for it to become severe before the baby is due to be born.
The symptoms of severe pre-eclampsia may include:
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A strong headache. This is usually a constant, frontal headache across the forehead. Some women also feel drowsy. |
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Severe pain at the base of the chest, or under the ribs on the right side. This is related to the liver and is similar to strong heartburn pain, but unable to be relieved with antacids. |
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Visual disturbances, such as seeing stars or spots in front of the eyes, blurred or tunnel vision. |
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Abnormal 'over-reactive' reflexes (hyperreflexia), muscles being 'jittery'. |
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Some women feel generally unwell, irritable, shake, and have a fever or vomit. |
Health effects of severe pre-eclampsia
If pre-eclampsia does become severe, it can affect the health of both the woman and her baby. In extreme cases, severe pre- eclampsia and eclampsia can be life threatening for the baby and / or, in very rare circumstances, also the woman. Some women will be very unwell and the baby stays unaffected. Other women will feel well, but their baby is not. In many cases both the woman and her baby are unwell to varying degrees.
Thankfully, only about 5% of women with mild to moderate pre-eclampsia will go on to experience severe pre-eclampsia. But there is no reliable way of predicting which women will do this.