Definition of "eclampsia" [ec•lamp•si•a]

• Coma and convulsions before, during, or shortly after childbirth, characterized by edema, hypertension, and proteinuria. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Doctors warn of the more serious condition, called eclampsia, which is characterized by headache, disturbances of vision, vomiting, pain in the stomach, and possibly convulsions or coma."
• "Since the only cure for eclampsia is getting the baby out, I’d had an emergency C-section as soon as I arrived at the hospital."
• "(Screw the book — you can’t die before I meet you in person = P) But yes, eclampsia is way scary and you are indeed lucky."