MD Preeclampsia is high blood pressure that develops or increases during pregnancy .
Eclampsia is a complication of severe preeclampsia that involves seizures .
The placenta is the spongy material in the mother's uterus that nourishes the fetus. Some experts believe that a problem with the placenta causes preeclampsia . The mother has spasms of the blood vessels, which increase her blood pressure . The blood flow to the placenta is impaired. If the blood pressure is not controlled, it can damage the placenta and cause the death of the fetus.