Eclampsia may occur at different stages of pregnancy. Typically though, it happens during the last trimester. Knowing the signs can help keep you and your baby safe.
Experts don’t typically classify eclampsia into different types, but the condition may occur at different times: before, during, or after giving birth.
Eclampsia is a rare condition that causes seizures during pregnancy. It’s typically a complication of existing preeclampsia, which is characterized by hypertension and proteinuria.
Researchers do not fully understand why some people who have preeclampsia go on to develop eclampsia.
However, it’s also
Eclampsia typically happens during the last trimester of pregnancy (weeks 28 to 40). But it can be as early as week 20 of pregnancy or as late as 6 weeks following delivery.
The highest risk of eclampsia is within the
However, it’s an extremely rare condition, affecting only 1 to 10 pregnant people out of every 10,000. In other words, it affects 0.01% to 0.1% of those who are pregnant.
Symptoms of eclampsia include:
- confusion
- severe agitation
- changes in mental state
- seizures
- loss of consciousness
Prior to this, you may experience the following:
- vision changes, such as blurriness
- abdominal pain
- feeling sick and vomiting
- headaches
- swelling of your hands and face
If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to get immediate medical attention.
Learn more about how doctors manage eclampsia.
Eclampsia is a rare condition that typically happens as a complication of preeclampsia during the later stages of pregnancy.
It may happen before, during, or after giving birth.
Knowing the signs of eclampsia can help you get prompt medical attention if you experience them.