Throughout May, the Preeclampsia Foundation is hosting the Promise Walk for Preeclampsia in 43 cities across the country as well as a virtual Promise Walk. Promise Walks range from walks to 5K runs and may also feature guest speakers, appearances by media personalities, free blood pressure screenings, silent auctions, raffles, family activities, and memorial events. Other Preeclampsia Awareness Month educational activities include social media outreach through Twitter Chats and Facebook postings.
Something new this year for Preeclampsia Awareness Month -- the Foundation will host an innovative Twitter Town Hall with leading maternal health advocates and co-host Every Mother Counts. Mark your calendar and join the conversation using your Twitter handle on Thursday, May 7, from 1 to 2 pm ET at #PreAM15.
Preeclampsia is a serious disease related to high blood pressure; it is now understood that preeclampsia
is a multi-systemic disease that affects all organ systems and is far more than high blood pressure and
renal dysfunction. In the United States, preeclampsia impacts one in every 12 pregnancies. The incidence of preeclampsia
has increased by 25 percent in the U.S. during the past two decades.
Preeclampsia can happen to any pregnant woman during the second half of her pregnancy or up to six weeks after delivery. Risks to the mother include seizures, stroke, organ damage, and death. Risks to the baby are premature birth, growth restriction, and death. Preeclampsia can develop gradually, or have a sudden onset, flaring up in a matter of hours, even though the signs and symptoms may have gone undetected for weeks or months. Early recognition and reporting of symptoms is the key to early detection and management of preeclampsia; contact your doctor or midwife right away if you experience any of the following symptoms. Having symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you have preeclampsia, but they are cause for concern and require immediate medical evaluation.
o Swelling of the hands and face, especially around the eyes (swelling of the feet is more common in late pregnancy and probably not a sign of preeclampsia)
o Weight gain of more than five pounds in a week
o Headache that won’t go away, even after taking medication such as acetaminophen
o Changes in vision like seeing spots or flashing lights; partial or total loss of eyesight
o Nausea or throwing up, especially suddenly, after mid pregnancy (not the morning sickness that
many women experience in early pregnancy)
o Upper right belly pain, sometimes mistaken for indigestion or the flu o Difficulty breathing, gasping, or panting
o “I just don’t feel right”
Preeclampsia can happen to any pregnant woman during the second half of her pregnancy or up to six weeks after delivery. Risks to the mother include seizures, stroke, organ damage, and death. Risks to the baby are premature birth, growth restriction, and death. Preeclampsia can develop gradually, or have a sudden onset, flaring up in a matter of hours, even though the signs and symptoms may have gone undetected for weeks or months. Early recognition and reporting of symptoms is the key to early detection and management of preeclampsia; contact your doctor or midwife right away if you experience any of the following symptoms. Having symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you have preeclampsia, but they are cause for concern and require immediate medical evaluation.
o Swelling of the hands and face, especially around the eyes (swelling of the feet is more common in late pregnancy and probably not a sign of preeclampsia)
o Weight gain of more than five pounds in a week
o Headache that won’t go away, even after taking medication such as acetaminophen
o Changes in vision like seeing spots or flashing lights; partial or total loss of eyesight
o Nausea or throwing up, especially suddenly, after mid pregnancy (not the morning sickness that
many women experience in early pregnancy)
o Upper right belly pain, sometimes mistaken for indigestion or the flu o Difficulty breathing, gasping, or panting
o “I just don’t feel right”
It’s also important to know that some women with preeclampsia have NO symptoms. The only way
your doctor or midwife can diagnose it is by monitoring your blood pressure and protein in your urine
...so keep all your prenatal appointments. Interventions for women with preeclampsia include increased monitoring, magnesium sulfate,
antihypertensive medications, corticosteroids for fetal lung maturation, and delivery. Preeclampsia can also impact the mother’s long-term health, and is a risk factor for heart disease and
stroke. Tell all your doctors, present and future, if you experience any problems during pregnancy.
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