Preeclampsia Prevention

Prevention

There are no reliable guidelines for preventing this condition. However, the following actions may help prevent pre-eclampsia or other problems related to pregnancy:

• Get early and regular prenatal care. Early treatment of pre-eclampsia may prevent eclampsia.
• If you have chronic high blood pressure, keep it under control during pregnancy.
• Get your doctor's approval before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.
• Do not smoke or drink alcohol during pregnancy.
• Eat regular, healthful meals and take prenatal vitamins.
• Antioxidant therapy (vitamin C, 1,000 mg per day; vitamin E, 400 mg per day) has shown promise, but further study is needed to prove effectiveness.
• A calcium supplement daily (1.5 g calcium/day) may reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia and hypertension, particularly in women at high risk for hypertension and those who typically have a low calcium intake.