70,000 women suffer from pre-eclampsia in the UK every year. It is a leading cause of maternal and baby death, with an estimated 600 babies and up to five women dying each year because of it.

There is no current cure for pre-eclampsia, apart from the delivery of the baby and with it the placenta that is causing the problem. That is why most women with pre-eclampsia have an induced, often early, delivery.

It is not reliably preventable or predictable, which is why regular attendance at antenatal check ups is so important. The two key signs of pre-eclampsia are raised blood pressure and the existence of protein in the urine. These checks should be carried out at each antenatal check up.

However, many women fail to attend all of their antenatal appointments and often fail to bring a specimen of urine. The Message in a Bottle Campaign is aimed at reminding women of the importance of attending their antenatal appointments and making sure that they have their urine tested for protein.

Not doing so might well be putting their lives and their babies' lives at risk.

The campaign week, which starts on the 8th November with a study day for midwives, will feature stories in local and national media, as well as radio interviews. Maternity units throughout the country will be taking part in order to encourage women who come to them to regularly attend, make sure they look for the Message in a Bottle and keep themselves and their babies safe.

The end of the week will coincide with the launch of the CEMACH report, “Why Mothers Die”. This is the triennial report into maternal death in England and Wales.

The campaign is being supported by Bayer plc which manufactures Multistix for the analysis of protein in the urine.