19.1.4  Summarising maternal and fetal complications of severe pre-eclampsia

Asphyxia is pronounced ‘ass-fix-ee-ah’.

‘Acute’ refers to a condition that begins suddenly and rapidly becomes very serious.

Table 19.1  Common complications of severe pre-eclampsia in the mother and the fetus.
Maternal complicationsFetal complications
EclampsiaPlacental abruption
Intracranial haemorrhage (bleeding inside the skull)Intrauterine asphyxia (severe shortage of oxygen in the uterus)
AnaemiaIUGR (intrauterine growth restriction)
Low platelet count, poor blood clotting and risk of bleedingPremature delivery
Acute kidney failureIUFD (intrauterine fetal death)
Acute liver failure, maybe even liver ruptureRespiratory distress after birth(early neonatal asphyxia)
Fluid in the lungs (pulmonary oedema)Mental retardation
Heart failure
Temporary total blindness

19.1.3  Common complications of severe pre-eclampsia for the mother

19.2  Classification of hypertension during pregnancy