The following is a summary of secondary care management recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

• Women with pre-eclampsia will be admitted.
• Blood pressure will be measured at least four times a day.
• The amount of protein in the urine will be quantified but once a diagnosis of significant proteinuria has been made the quantification will not be repeated.
• Women with severe or moderate pre-eclampsia will be prescribed labetalol as first-choice treatment to keep diastolic blood pressure less than 80–100 mmHg and systolic blood pressure less than 150 mmHg. Methyldopa and nifedipine are alternatives after consideration of the adverse effect profile for the mother and the fetus.
• Blood tests
• Blood tests for urea and electrolytes, full blood count, transaminases, and bilirubin will be done three times a week for women with moderate or severe pre-eclampsia, and twice a week for women with mild pre-eclampsia.
• Timing of birth
• Birth will be offered to women presenting with pre-eclampsia before 34 weeks, after discussion with neonatal and anaesthetic teams and a course of antenatal steroids has been given, if severe hypertension develops which is refractory to treatment, or if maternal or fetal indications for urgent intervention develop.
• Birth will be offered to women who develop severe pre-eclampsia after 34 weeks when their blood pressure has been controlled and a course of antenatal steroids has been completed (if appropriate).
• Birth will be offered to women with mild or moderate pre-eclampsia at 34+0 to 36+6 weeks depending on their maternal and fetal condition, risk factors, and availability of neonatal intensive care.
• Birth within 24–48 hours will be offered to women with mild or moderate pre-eclampsia after 37+0 weeks.