Preeclampsia is a condition characterized by high blood pressure, excessive amounts of protein in the urine, and swelling in the legs and feet (Suhonen et al., 1993). Lewis et al. (2014) defined preeclampsia as a hypertensive condition of pregnancy diagnosed when a woman with no history of hypertension develops hypertension and proteinuria after the 20th week of gestation. According to WHO (2011), it is the most important condition among hypertensive disorders due to its impact on maternal and neonatal health. It is a major cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity worldwide. The rate of preeclampsia increased by 40% between 1990 and 1999, particularly in developed countries ((Shamsi et al., 2010). It affects multiple maternal organs including the liver, brain and kidneys (Lewis et al., 2014) .however, the etiology of preeclampsia is only partially understood. Say no to plagiarism Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Shouldn’t be prohibited"? Get an original essay The onset of hypertension during pregnancy (with persistent diastolic blood pressure >. 90 mmHg) with the appearance of substantial proteinuria (>0.3 g/24 h) can be used as criterion for identifying preeclampsia. Although pathophysiological changes (e.g. inadequate placentation) exist from the early stages of pregnancy, hypertension and proteinuria usually become evident. in the second half of pregnancy and are present in 2%–8% of all pregnancies overall (WHO, 2011) Obese pregnant women (BMI >30 kg/m²) experience an almost three-fold increase in the development of preeclampsia compared to normal. weight (BMI 18.5-<25.0 kg/m2) (Lewis et al., 2014). Preeclampsia is usually classified as mild or severe. Severe hypertension, severe proteinuria, substantial maternal organ dysfunction, early onset (before 32–34 weeks of pregnancy) of preeclampsia, or fetal morbidity may be considered in the category of severe preeclampsia in many parts of the world. Progression from mild to severe can be rapid and unexpected, resulting in maternal deaths (WHO, 2011). Preeclampsia has many consequences including reduced fetal growth, premature birth and death. It can also lead to eclampsia, which is the onset of seizures linked only to a diagnosis of preeclampsia (Lewis et al., 2014). Please note: this is just a sample. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The author identified a significant and independent relationship between preeclampsia and GDM. Diabetic pregnancies along with preeclampsia may worsen due to adverse perinatal consequences (Crowther et al., 2005). Therefore, the National Collaborating Center for Women's and Children's Health (NCCWCH) presented guidelines for routine prenatal care recommending that a woman's risk level for preeclampsia be assessed at the first visit by identifying a set of maternal characteristics including maternal age, body mass index, and prior and family history of preeclampsia, so that a plan for prenatal visits can be formulated. This will allow intensive maternal and fetal monitoring, leading to an early diagnosis of preeclampsia with the potential to attenuate an adverse outcome (Akolekar et al., 2011).