Pre-eclampsia Q&As
Published by Bupa's health information team, July 2009.
Answers to questions about pre-eclampsia
This section contains answers to common questions about this topic. Questions have been suggested by health professionals, website feedback and requests via email.
- I had pre-eclampsia in my first pregnancy. Am I more likely to get it again?
- Can my diet affect my risk of developing pre-eclampsia?
- Does staying in bed help to reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia?
I had pre-eclampsia in my first pregnancy. Am I more likely to get it again?
Yes. If you had pre-eclampsia in a previous pregnancy and you get pregnant again, you're at an increased risk of developing the condition.
Explanation
Your risk of developing pre-eclampsia during pregnancy goes up if you had pre-eclampsia in your previous pregnancy. Compared to a woman who hasn't had pre-eclampsia, you're nearly eight times more likely to develop the condition. This will vary for everyone and will depend on a number of things such as how serious your pre-eclampsia was before and when you developed it.
If you do develop pre-eclampsia again, it's likely to be less serious than the first time. It will probably also occur a bit later in your pregnancy, usually by about a couple of weeks.
If you're pregnant and had pre-eclampsia in a previous pregnancy, it's very important that you tell your midwife and GP. Make sure you go to all your antenatal appointments and that your blood pressure is checked regularly. You should also tell your midwife or GP if you're worried about anything or have any symptoms that you think might be caused by pre-eclampsia. This way, if you do develop pre-eclampsia, it will be picked up early and you can be given treatment straight away.
Sources
- Simon C, Everitt H, Kendrick T. Oxford Handbook of General Practice. 2nd ed. Oxford 2005: 786-87
- About pre-eclampsia. Action on pre-eclampsia. www.apec.org.uk, accessed 9 February 2009
Can my diet affect my risk of developing pre-eclampsia?
It's possible, but there is very little evidence to show whether anything in particular has any effect. It's important that you eat a healthy, balanced diet including at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
Explanation
Lots of research has been done to see whether eating certain foods can affect how likely you are to develop pre-eclampsia. However, on the whole, there is very little evidence to suggest that any particular food has any influence on your risk.
Vitamins C and E are anti-oxidants, which are thought to help prevent damage to the cells in your body. Vitamin C is found in lots of fruit and vegetables including broccoli, peppers and citrus fruit such as oranges. Oils from plants (for example, olive or corn oil) and nuts and seeds contain a lot of vitamin E. Eating more of these foods may reduce your risk of pre-eclampsia, but so far studies have not produced any firm evidence and more research is needed. Taking vitamin C and E supplements haven't been shown to reduce pre-eclampsia risk, and can in fact be harmful. They may increase your risk of having a baby with low birthweight. Only take supplements if your doctor recommends it.
You may have heard that eating a diet that is low in salt or eating lots of garlic during pregnancy may reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia. There is no evidence to support either of these.
Research has shown that women who don't get enough calcium in their diet can reduce their risk of pre-eclampsia by taking calcium supplements. This is only necessary if you're lacking in calcium, and isn't common in women in the UK unless you're allergic to dairy products.
Don't start taking any dietary supplement without speaking to your midwife or GP first, as taking too much of certain vitamins may be harmful to your baby.
Sources
- Does my diet affect my risk of getting pre-eclampsia during pregnancy? The Babycentre. www.babycentre.co.uk, accessed 9 February 2009
- Poston L, Briley AL, Seed PT et al. Vitamin C and vitamin E in pregnant women at risk for pre-eclampsia (VIP trial): randomised placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 2006; 367: 1145-1154
- Duley L, Henderson-Smart DJ, Meher S. Altered dietary salt for preventing pre-eclampsia, and its complications. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2005, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD005548. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005548, www.cochrane.org
- Meher S, Duley L. Garlic for preventing pre-eclampsia and its complications. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD006065. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006065, www.cochrane.org
- Hofmeyr GJ, Atallah AN, Duley L. Calcium supplementation during pregnancy for preventing hypertensive disorders and related problems. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD001059. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001059.pub2, www.cochrane.org
Does staying in bed help to reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia?
There is not enough evidence to suggest that bed rest helps to reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia, and it may put you at risk of deep vein thrombosis. The current advice is to continue with your usual level of activity.
Explanation
Very little research has been done into whether stopping your usual activities and resting for several hours a day helps to lower the chance of developing pre-eclampsia. Some evidence shows that it may help if you don't have raised blood pressure, but it's important to remember that being inactive can increase your risk of getting other conditions such as deep vein thrombosis. At the moment, it's not known whether it's better to rest or carry on with your activities as usual.
You should talk to your midwife and GP about whether or not you should rest more during pregnancy. Resting more than usual for long periods of time is also likely to have an impact on your life and that of your family.
Sources
- Meher S, Abalos E, Carroli G. Bed rest with or without hospitalisation for hypertension during pregnancy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2005, Issue 4. Art No: CD003514. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003514.pub2, www.cochrane.org
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This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.
Publication date: July 2009
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