Surgery

There is no surgical treatment for high blood pressure during pregnancy or for preeclampsia.

Surgical cesarean section delivery is used when:

• A rapid delivery is medically needed for the mother's or fetus's well-being or survival.
• Induction of labor has not been successful, usually within a 24-hour period.
• There are medical reasons, such as placenta previa, that make vaginal delivery dangerous.

For more information, see the topic Cesarean Section.

Other Treatment

Delivery

The main treatment for severe preeclampsia is stabilizing the condition (preventing seizures with the anticonvulsant medicine magnesium sulfate and controlling high blood pressure) and delivering the baby. If you have severe preeclampsia or you have mild to moderate preeclampsia and are close to your due date, your baby will be delivered. Vaginal delivery is preferred to cesarean delivery.

Expectant management

Your condition may be treated with expectant management (bed rest) either at home or in the hospital. The purpose of expectant management is to allow more time for fetal development, for the cervix to become ready for a vaginal delivery, or both.

Social support

Reduced activity and worry are difficult parts of having preeclampsia. It often helps to talk with women who are or have been in the same situation. See the Other Places to Get Help section of this topic for more information.