Pitfalls

  • Not considering pre-eclampsia or HELLP syndrome in the differential diagnosis due to non-specific presenting symptoms
  • Not recognising severe features of pre-eclampsia
  • Managing the pregnant patient with new seizures according to standard seizure treatment protocols rather than as suspected eclampsia
  • Not referring early to obstetrics for specialist management
  • Overlooking pre-eclampsia as a potential diagnosis when the onset is in the postpartum period.