ATLANTA , Georgia ( CNN ) -- At its worst , Melissa Miller 's blood pressure measured 153 over 95 , dangerously high for anyone , never mind a woman who is 36 weeks pregnant . Melissa Miller , put on bed rest because of preeclampsia , prepares for a doctor-ordered Caesarean section . Miller , 29 of Atlanta , Georgia , had preeclampsia , otherwise known as pregnancy-induced hypertension . It occurs in up to 8 percent of all pregnancies in the United States during the second and third trimesters . The only cure is delivery of the baby . As Miller was prepped for a doctor-ordered Caesarean section , she explained this was n't the first time she has battled the disease . `` In my first pregnancy , I had preeclampsia too , '' Miller said . `` I delivered at 23 weeks . '' The child is fine now , but Miller learned about the disease the hard way . `` Preeclampsia is one of the most serious pregnancy complications , '' said Dr. Lillian Schapiro , an obstetrician-gynecologist at Atlanta 's Piedmont Hospital . `` It can lead to maternal death if we do n't catch it early enough . '' Doctors usually catch the symptoms during regular prenatal checkups . They include blood pressure higher than 140 over 90 , severe headaches usually in the back of the head , swelling in the hands and face , upper abdominal pain , nausea and sudden weight gain . Watch more on the dangerous condition preeclampsia . » . Some of the symptoms such as swelling and nausea occur in normal pregnancies , but Schapiro said a doctor can tell the difference by checking a patient 's blood pressure and measuring protein in the urine . She warns pregnant women , `` If you start having an unusual headache , call your doctor . If you 're concerned about swelling , call your doctor . '' Doctors report most women with preeclampsia , which used to be called toxemia , go on to deliver healthy babies and recover just fine . Left untreated , preeclampsia can lead to eclampsia . Women can develop seizures , which can result in strokes . The condition can often be managed by placing a pregnant woman on bed rest . For many patients , it 's an effective treatment that lowers the blood pressure and increases blood flow to the placenta , allowing the fetus to further develop . Schapiro ordered Miller to bed about a week before her delivery . `` Bed rest helps tremendously , '' the doctor said . `` It 's really the only thing we have to treat early preeclampsia . '' The exact cause of preeclampsia is unknown , but doctors do know what increases a woman 's risk -- including both extremes of the age range . `` Typically it is patients who are young , and patients who are older , '' according to Atlanta-based obstetrician-gynecologist Michael Randell . He also said the risk of developing preeclampsia is highest during a first pregnancy and among those carrying twins , triplets or other multiples . Women with a history of high blood pressure and diabetes are also at risk , as are those moms-to-be who are obese . Miller described herself as overweight during her first pregnancy three years ago . She developed preeclampsia early on and was forced to deliver her son a little over halfway through her pregnancy . The experience was frightening , but Miller learned some lessons that she has applied to her second pregnancy . `` I was more cautious because I knew what to look for and I knew that the doctors were monitoring me very closely . '' Melissa delivered her baby a month early at the end of February . While she went home after a couple of days , the baby remained in the hospital . E-mail to a friend . Judy Fortin is a correspondent with CNN Medical News . Producer Leslie Wade contributed to this report .
Preeclampsia is also known as pregnancy-induced hypertension . Occurs in up to 8 percent of all pregnancies , is among most serious complications . Symptoms include blood pressure higher than 140 over 90 , severe headaches . Patients usually put on bed rest ; only cure is to deliver the baby .