Does maternal preeclampsia increase the risk of neonatal sepsis in my baby?
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication marked by high blood pressure. It can affect the baby's health, including raising the chance of infection. A large 2026 meta-analysis found that babies born to mothers with preeclampsia have a modestly increased risk of neonatal sepsis (a serious blood infection) in the first 28 days of life 37. The risk increase is small but real, and it may be partly due to preterm birth and other factors linked to preeclampsia.
What the research says
A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis pooled data from 11 studies involving over 1.5 million newborns, including nearly 66,000 exposed to preeclampsia 37. The analysis found that preeclampsia was associated with a 27% higher risk of neonatal sepsis (risk ratio 1.27, 95% CI 1.02–1.56) 37. However, the studies varied a lot (high heterogeneity), meaning the true effect may differ across populations. Sensitivity analyses gave a range of risk increases from 18% to 32% 3. The authors rated the evidence as moderate certainty 37.
Another study on maternal obesity found that about half of the increased sepsis risk in babies of obese mothers was explained by preeclampsia, cesarean delivery, and preterm birth 8. This suggests that preeclampsia may be part of a chain of events leading to higher infection risk, rather than a direct cause.
Other sources in your set discuss diagnosing neonatal sepsis (e.g., using IL-27 vs. CRP) 1, antibiotic resistance strategies 2, and prevention with chlorhexidine cord care 5, but they do not directly address the link between preeclampsia and sepsis risk.
What to ask your doctor
- Given my history of preeclampsia, what is my baby's specific risk for neonatal sepsis?
- Should my baby be monitored more closely for signs of infection after birth?
- What symptoms of neonatal sepsis should I watch for at home?
- Are there any preventive steps, like delayed cord clamping or chlorhexidine cord care, that could lower my baby's infection risk?
- How does preterm delivery (if applicable) factor into the sepsis risk for my baby?
This question is drawn from common patient questions about OB/GYN & Women's Health and answered using cited medical research. We do not provide individualized advice.