Eclampsia pregnancy is a severe condition of preeclampsia or a high blood pressure disorder that decreases the fetus’s blood supply, which may result in the fetus not receiving enough oxygen and nutrients for its growth. Eclampsia pregnancy commonly happens during or after the 20th week of gestation. It is a rare condition that affects 1 in every 2 000 to 3 000 pregnancies yearly.
Most of the pregnancies that are affected by eclampsia are first pregnancies. While it can be life-threatening if left untreated, it is very uncommon for pregnant women in advanced countries to die from this condition. Eclampsia has various related conditions that can either occur as symptoms or independent conditions, such as edema or tissue swelling due to the buildup of tissue fluids. Pulmonary edema is caused by the same buildup of fluid in the lungs, headaches caused by high blood pressure due to eclampsia, and gestational diabetes, causing the infant to gain too much weight during gestation.