What Is the Treatment for Preeclampsia and Eclampsia?
The only real cure for preeclampsia and eclampsia is the birth of the baby. Mild preeclampsia (blood pressure greater than 140/90 that occurs after 20 weeks of gestation in a woman who did not have hypertension before; and/or having a small amount of protein in the urine can be managed with careful hospital or in-home observation along with activity restriction. If the baby is pre-term, the condition can be managed until your baby can be safely delivered. Your health care provider may prescribe bed rest, hospitalization, or medication to prolong the pregnancy and increase your unborn baby’s chances of survival. If your baby is close to term, labor may be induced. The treatment for more severe preeclampsia (having vision problems, lung problems, abdominal pain, fetal distress, or other signs and symptoms) may require more emergent treatment — delivery of the baby — irrespective of the baby’s age. Other treatments include: • Magnesium can be injected into the veins to prevent eclampsia
