When it comes to pregnancy, the instinct to protect your baby is natural and powerful. Preeclampsia affects about 1 in 12 pregnancies in the United States, causing understandable concern and anxiety because its impacts often go beyond what we see or even initially consider— especially for the baby.
Continue reading to discover how preeclampsia might impact your baby. Understanding your risk early in pregnancy is crucial, not only for the mother's well-being but also to ensure the baby has the healthiest start possible. Let's delve into how preeclampsia can affect your baby's development, the potential need for early delivery, and the importance of early screening and preventive measures for you and your baby's health.
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication that affects 1 in 12 pregnancies in the United States, a rate which has steadily increased over the past two decades. Characterized by high blood pressure, preeclampsia can lead to serious outcomes for the baby. While these concerns are difficult to think about, especially for first-time parents, knowing the possibilities can be empowering.
When preeclampsia develops, it can narrow the blood vessels that deliver oxygen and nutrients directly to the baby through the placenta. This limited blood flow may impede growth, causing intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), where babies are smaller than expected for their gestational age. One study showed that pregnancies with preeclampsia are up to 4.3 times more likely to be impacted by IUGR. This condition can result in an increased likelihood of complications.
Babies affected by IUGR may face developmental challenges and extended NICU stays in the days following delivery. By knowing your preeclampsia risk before you have symptoms, your healthcare team can put an action plan in place to help prevent it. Knowing your risk will also help them monitor your baby’s progress and tailor care and decision-making to better support both of you. Understanding the potential impacts of preeclampsia gives you, as a parent, the tools to prepare and help focus on your baby’s health every step of the way.
In some preeclampsia cases, early delivery, whether vaginally or via C-section, is the safest available option to protect both mother and baby. Preeclampsia is currently one of the leading causes of preterm birth globally. But while preterm birth, when a baby is born before 37 weeks gestation, might be a necessary lifesaving measure, it can come with a set of unique challenges. Babies born prematurely often require time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to support their breathing, digestion, and further development until they’re ready for the world outside the hospital.
After an unexpected preterm birth or difficult labor, navigating the NICU or leaving your baby behind for additional monitoring can be overwhelming and devastating for parents. For many families, understanding these potential outcomes and seeking early clarity on your preeclampsia risk can make a real difference in feeling prepared and connected to the care process. Even in the most challenging of circumstances, proactive planning with your healthcare team helps you prepare for the future, ensuring you have a support network in place if you or your baby needs extra care early on.
Does having preeclampsia guarantee you’ll have a preterm birth, an early induction, or a C-section? No, not at all. Preeclampsia can vary greatly, and while early-onset cases tend to be more severe, each pregnancy is unique. When you know your risk and have a plan to act on it, prevention is possible.
Understanding the potential risks associated with preeclampsia can be overwhelming, but proactive measures can help you feel better prepared and confident in your pregnancy. The Encompass test, developed using the latest RNA-science, is a simple blood test that allows expecting parents and mothers to know their preeclampsia risk months before symptoms arise— providing a crucial window to take action toward prevention.
Once you know your preeclampsia risk, it's essential to implement an action plan as soon as possible. This plan should include factors like discussing appropriate medications with your care team, regular lab tests to monitor liver and kidney function, and keeping an eye on your blood pressure at home. Your diet can play a role as well, so incorporating certain foods and dietary supplements early on can be very important. And while lifestyle changes like maintaining a balanced diet and regular exercise are crucial, they should always complement medical and monitoring aspects.
From medications, monitoring, labs, and diet changes—there’s so much you can do to act on your risk, but knowing where to start can be overwhelming. Every Encompass test result includes a personalized action plan for preeclampsia prevention and an SMS-based virtual assistant to simplify putting that plan into action.
