Preeclampsia Treatments

Early Delivery of the Baby

If the pregnancy has progressed 36 weeks or more, your doctor may recommend that labor be induced.

Supplements and Medication

Mild pre-eclampsia can often be managed until 36 weeks gestation with rest and medication. For example, your doctor may recommend that you take:

• Aspirin to lower risk of pre-eclampsia
• Medications to lower blood pressure, such as hydralazine (eg, Apo-Hydralazine), methyldopa
• Magnesium sulfate to reduce risk of convulsions
• Daily calcium supplement—may reduce the risk of eclampsia, particularly if your calcium intake was low to begin with *¹

Home Treatment

If your home situation is stable, and you live close to the hospital, your doctor may treat you at home. Home treatment may include:

• Taking frequent blood pressure readings
• Getting plenty of rest (remaining mostly at bed rest)
• Obtaining help for preparing meals, doing housework, and caring for family members

Admission to the Hospital

If pre-eclampsia is moderate, or your home situation is not restful, the doctor may admit you to the hospital. Treatment may include:

• Lowering your blood pressure (medications)
• Medications (usually magnesium sulphate) to prevent eclampsia
• Monitoring your baby's condition
• Making sure you get enough rest

Severe Pre-eclampsia

If the pre-eclampsia is severe, labor can be induced as early as 28 weeks. Early delivery poses a risk to the fetus, but allowing severe pre-eclampsia to continue is extremely risky for the mother and fetus.

Most women with pre-eclampsia still deliver healthy babies. A few develop a condition called eclampsia, in which seizures, caused by severe pre-eclampsia, occur. This condition is very serious for the mother and baby. Fortunately, pre-eclampsia is usually detected early in women who get regular prenatal care, and most problems can be prevented.