Blood pressure is checked at every antenatal visit for a reason. Raised BP in the second half of pregnancy can be the first sign of pre-eclampsia, a condition that affects the placenta, the mother’s kidneys, liver and brain, and the baby’s growth. It can develop over days, and it often feels like nothing at all in the early stage.
Who is at higher risk
- BP, kidney disease, diabetes, lupus or APLA before pregnancy
- Pre-eclampsia in a previous pregnancy
- A first pregnancy, especially above 35 or 40 years of age
- Twins or triplets
- Pregnancy through IVF
- A BMI above 30, or a gap of more than ten years since the last pregnancy
Prevention starts early
For women at raised risk, low-dose aspirin started before 16 weeks lowers the chance of early, severe pre-eclampsia. It is a prescription decision: do not start it on your own, and do not stop it without advice. A first-trimester assessment that includes uterine artery Doppler and BP helps decide who will benefit.
Symptoms that need a same-day check
- A headache that does not settle with rest or paracetamol
- Blurred vision, flashing lights or spots
- Pain under the ribs on the right side, or in the upper abdomen
- Sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet
- Feeling the baby move less than usual
- A home BP reading of 140/90 or higher
If you have any of these symptoms, do not wait for your next appointment. Call the hospital or come in directly - labour and obstetric care are available 24 × 7.
If you are diagnosed
Treatment focuses on keeping BP in a safe range with medicines that are safe in pregnancy, watching blood and urine tests, and tracking the baby’s growth and Doppler flow. The only cure for pre-eclampsia is delivery of the placenta, so the real decision is timing: balancing the baby’s maturity against the mother’s safety. That decision is made with you, and steroid injections are given beforehand when an early birth is likely.
Related care: High-risk pregnancy care in Ahmedabad
More patient guides
- The NT scan at 11–14 weeks: what it checks and how to prepare
- Expecting twins? Why “do they share a placenta?” is the first question
- NIPT or NT scan: which test do you need, and can one replace the other?
- Pregnancy after 35: fertility, risks and how to plan a healthy pregnancy
- Uterine fibroids: symptoms, when to treat, and the options available
This guide is general information for patients and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor.