What is Pre-Eclampsia?
Arising during pregnancy and affecting at least 5% to 8% of all pregnancies, it is a rapidly progressive condition characterized by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine. Swelling, sudden weight gain, headaches and changes in vision are important symptoms; however, some women with rapidly advancing disease report few symptoms. Additionally, while blood pressure elevation is the most visible sign, it involves generalized damage to the kidneys and liver.
Typically, pre-eclampsia occurs after 20 weeks gestation (in the late second or third trimesters), though it can occur earlier. Proper prenatal care is essential to diagnose and manage pre-eclampsia (formerly called toxemia). Pregnancy Induced Hypertension, HELLP Syndrome, and Eclampsia (characterized by convulsions) are other manifestations of the syndrome. It is important to note that research shows that more women die from pre-eclampsia than eclampsia and one is not necessarily more serious than the other.
Pre-eclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading global cause of maternal and infant illness and death. By conservative estimates, these disorders are responsible for 76,000 maternal and 500,000 infant deaths each year worldwide. (Source: Pre-Eclampsia Foundation - www.preeclampsia.org)
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Show support for the more than 76,000 women and 585,000 children who die each year due to pre-eclampsia complications. 
Know the signs and symptoms of pre-eclampsia.