21/05/2026
🤰 Did you know that pre-eclampsia is one of the world’s leading causes of maternal and infant deaths?
The review reinforces current international guidelines, which recommend that all women with pre-eclampsia should be offered planned early birth no later than 37 weeks and, for women with gestational hypertension or chronic hypertension, careful monitoring with planned early birth considered from 39 weeks onwards.
💬 "A common misconception is that by waiting longer, mum and baby are gaining more time, but often what you are doing is just delaying an inevitable emergency birth, when both may be in a worse condition," explains Dr Alice Beardmore-Gray from King's College London.
🤰 Did you know that pre-eclampsia is one of the world’s leading causes of maternal and infant deaths?
Tomorrow is World Pre-eclampsia Day, and we’re reminded that hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are life-threatening and disproportionally affect women in low- and middle-income countries. For women with pre-eclampsia, early birth remains the only definitive treatment, as the condition is driven by the placenta and will only resolve once it is delivered.
Published today, a new Cochrane review finds that planned early birth for pregnant women with high blood pressure cuts maternal complications by nearly half and reduces the risk of stillbirth by 75%, without increasing the likelihood of caesarean section.
The review reinforces current international guidelines, which recommend that all women with pre-eclampsia should be offered planned early birth no later than 37 weeks and, for women with gestational hypertension or chronic hypertension, careful monitoring with planned early birth considered from 39 weeks onwards.
💬 "A common misconception is that by waiting longer, mum and baby are gaining more time, but often what you are doing is just delaying an inevitable emergency birth, when both may be in a worse condition," explains Dr Alice Beardmore-Gray from King's College London.
The authors advise that the timing of birth should ultimately take into account the woman's preferences and the severity of her condition.