How is pre-eclampsia treated?
Hospital admission and bed rest
Medications
Diet and supplements
Natural therapies
The only cure for pre-eclampsia is for the woman to have her baby. However, the health risks of pre-eclampsia can persevere for a few days after the birth. Most women will make a complete recovery about a month after the birth. Any treatments offered by caregivers are aimed at reducing the woman's blood pressure temporarily, and prolonging the pregnancy to prevent a premature baby, as well as monitoring the health of the mother and the baby, until the baby is born.
It is ideal if a physician accustomed to dealing with pre-eclampsia works in partnership with the obstetrician caring for a woman with pre-eclampsia. The physician deals mainly with the health of the woman and the treatment of her blood pressure.
Your caregiver(s) may suggest inducing the labour if the blood pressure is unable to be controlled adequately, or you or your baby are unwell. Depending on how you feel about induction, it is reasonable to allow you to go up to 10 days overdue if you or your baby is not at immediate risk and the blood pressure is stable. In an emergency situation a Caesarean may be done because the woman's and / or baby's health are at risk. You may wish to read
induction of labour.
Hospital admission and bed rest
In our mother's time, pre-eclampsia was automatically treated with complete bed rest in hospital until the birth. While rest and relaxation is beneficial in reducing your blood pressure, in normal circumstances, it is now considered of little benefit in preventing pre-eclampsia.
Women with mild to moderate pre-eclampsia, may be admitted to hospital initially for a couple of days. The aim is usually to monitor the woman's blood pressure more closely, to perform blood and urine tests and to monitor the baby.