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Warning-sign checks

Eclampsia: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Call emergency services immediately if someone who is pregnant or has recently given birth has a seizure.

    Do the same for loss of consciousness, severe breathing difficulty, signs of stroke, or a seizure lasting several minutes or followed by another seizure without recovery.

    Stay with them until emergency help arrives.

    Seek urgent maternity or emergency assessment for:

    • A severe or persistent headache
    • Blurred vision, flashing lights, or loss of vision
    • Severe pain under the right ribs or in the upper abdomen
    • Shortness of breath or chest pain
    • A home blood pressure reading of 160/110 mmHg or higher
    • Heavy bleeding, reduced fetal movement, or feeling suddenly very unwell

    Contact the maternity or primary care team if headaches, swelling, abdominal pain, or blood pressure concerns persist without emergency features.

    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    These symptoms require urgent assessment even if earlier blood pressure readings were normal.

The article also says

During a seizure, protect the person from injury, turn them onto their side when safe, and do not place anything in their mouth.

After discharge, attend all scheduled blood pressure checks.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Eclampsia. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.