What are the warning signs of high blood pressure in pregnancy?
Severe headache, blurred vision, pain under the right ribs, sudden swelling, or a fit.
High blood pressure and pre-eclampsia often cause no symptoms at first, which is why your blood pressure and urine are checked at every visit. When symptoms do appear, the condition is already serious.
Severe headache that will not go away, flashing lights or blurred vision, pain high in the stomach or under the right ribs, vomiting late in pregnancy, sudden swelling of the face and hands, or a seizure all need immediate hospital care.
- Attend every antenatal visit for blood pressure checks
- Take blood pressure medicine exactly as prescribed
- Know these symptoms and act on them immediately
- Severe or persistent headache
- Blurred vision or flashing lights
- Pain under the right ribs
- Sudden swelling of face and hands
- A fit or convulsion
These are emergency signs of pre-eclampsia or eclampsia — go to the nearest hospital immediately.
This information is general health education and does not replace advice from your nurse, midwife or doctor. In an emergency go to your nearest facility.