Preeclampsia Foundation

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Every mom needs to be aware of the signs and symptoms of preeclampsia. Join us for free as we walk together on October 17: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/2026promisewalk/classification/298056/

Magnesium sulfate (given intravenously) is the treatment of choice for severe preeclampsia to prevent eclampsia, or after eclampsia develops, to prevent more seizures. Many, but not all, providers will also treat every preeclamptic patient with magnesium sulfate during labor, even when the disease may only have mild features. Eclampsia can occur even without the presence of severe preeclampsia symptoms. Magnesium treatment is generally continued for 24-48 hours after the last seizure or beyond delivery. You may receive magnesium sulfate in an intensive care unit or a labor and delivery unit. While magnesium is given, you will be observed closely, receive intravenous fluids, and may have a catheter placed in your bladder to measure urine output.

Magnesium sulfate can be used by a skilled healthcare provider with appropriate support facilities. Overdoses can occur and lead to harm to your kidneys, so you should be closely monitored.

Side effects of magnesium sulfate may include drowsiness, redness, flushing or overheating, muscle fatigue or weakness, dizziness, and trouble concentrating. Symptoms typically go away shortly after the medication is stopped. Its use can be very uncomfortable, but your provider hs likely included it in your treatment to prevent a worse outcome - seizures.

Magnesium sulfate has often been compared to Epsom salts, but ingesting Epsom salts and/or magnesium vitamin supplements have not been shown to prevent maternal death due to eclamptic seizures. Magnesium levels achieved with oral therapy are not sufficient to prevent seizures. The medication should be through an IV.

Learn more: https://www.preeclampsia.org/what-is-eclampsia

Nausea or vomiting is particularly significant when the onset is sudden and after mid-pregnancy. “Morning sickness” should disappear after the first trimester. Women with hyperemesis gravidrium do have a risk of developing preeclampsia.

The sudden and new appearance of nausea and vomiting after mid-pregnancy may be linked to preeclampsia.

What you can do:

➡️Call your care provider.

Nausea or vomiting can be mistaken for the flu or gallbladder problems, so talk to your provider about getting your blood pressure checked and ask whether your urine should be tested for protein.

Learn more: https://www.preeclampsia.org/signs-and-symptoms

Women who have had preeclampsia have three to four times the risk of high blood pressure and double the risk for heart disease and stroke. For women who had preeclampsia and delivered preterm, had low-birthweight babies, or suffered from severe preeclampsia more than once, the risk of heart disease can be even higher. While still unknown whether the risk is caused by preeclampsia or if the woman was already predisposed, these risks first emerge in the years following a complicated pregnancy. Although this may seem daunting, ample research shows that there are many ways for women to protect their heart health and that of their families!

This research does not mean you will definitely develop heart problems if you had preeclampsia, but for some women pregnancy can serve as an early warning sign for future heart disease. This kind of “heads up” gives you an opportunity to make changes now for a healthier tomorrow – and reap the benefits today, too!

While you can’t change the fact that you experienced preeclampsia, eclampsia or HELLP syndrome, you can adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle to reduce these risks.

Learn more here: https://www.preeclampsia.org/heart-disease-stroke