When Amy first found out she was expecting, like so many soon-to-be parents, she hoped for a smooth and easy road to motherhood. A self-described “planner,” she took every step she could to ensure her pregnancy was as healthy as possible, embracing each milestone. But as she approached her third trimester, she was diagnosed with preeclampsia—a condition she had casually heard in passing but never imagined would impact her.
Preeclampsia currently affects 1 in 12 pregnancies in the United States, a number which has been steadily increasing. Understanding your preeclampsia risk early can offer an opportunity for action and give you a vital layer of preparedness. Continue reading as Amy shares her personal experience with preeclampsia, her story of resilience, and her continued fight for awareness.
“Looking back on those early months I felt so lucky my entire pregnancy. I was never nauseous. I never had crazy symptoms. I slept fine. I felt great. I was like,
Amy’s pregnancy seemed almost perfect from the start. Yet, at 32 weeks, her doctor raised an unexpected concern— her blood pressure was rising and she needed to look out for symptoms of preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure that usually develops after the 20th week of pregnancy, and it can lead to serious outcomes for both mom and baby. For many women, like Amy, preeclampsia develops silently, with no visible symptoms, making prevention and intervention so difficult without the help of an early screening test.
Amy’s blood pressure continued to climb for the next 2 weeks, and at her 34 week appointment, her doctor diagnosed her with preeclampsia. Amy received an emergency induction 6 weeks early— a dramatic change from the “perfect” pregnancy she was experiencing. Although Amy’s blood pressure was climbing for 2 weeks before it, she recalls feeling surprisingly normal— a hallmark of why preeclampsia often catches families off guard and why it can escalate so quickly.
“I remember being very hot, but had none of the symptoms that they tell you to look out for. I wasn’t dizzy. I didn’t have a headache. I wasn’t seeing spots. I wasn’t lightheaded. None of that,” she recalls.
Despite feeling “fine,” Amy went from her preeclampsia diagnosis to labor in a matter of hours. There was such little time to even contemplate what this emergency labor could mean for her or her baby.
Perhaps one of the hardest parts for Amy throughout this entire journey was the separation from her baby immediately after birth. “One of the things I’m still mourning is the cute pictures in the hospital right after the baby’s born. He was never in my room. I never got any of that.”
The reality of going home without her baby added another layer to the emotional rollercoaster. “Nothing mentally prepares you for that,” she says. And yet, this is the reality that 8% of all pregnancies face. Today, at 10 months old, Amy’s son, Dax, is thriving—a testament to his mom’s resilience and the incredible care he received during his first weeks.
“If I had known my risk, it would have given me and my doctor more time to understand the treatment plan,” Amy explains. “I think it would have given me time to educate my family on what was happening so that they didn’t feel so blind. It was a really traumatizing experience for my husband and my parents.”
Amy’s story is not unlike the journeys of many women. Often striking without warning, families are left feeling overwhelmed and unprepared for an unexpected complication. Families facing preeclampsia often feel blindsided, and the ability to plan ahead by knowing your preeclampsia risk months early and having a preventive action plan in place can make all the difference in getting ahead of its challenges.
“There is such a wealth of information out there when you’re pregnant or parenting.” Amy explains, “I wanted to be a source of authentic information that felt relatable and felt easy to understand. I felt like that was lacking on the internet of all places.”
By openly sharing her preeclampsia story, Amy hopes to reach other women navigating similar challenges. “Having the information is number one,” she notes. The Encompass test bridges the gap between information and action. With science-based insights, the Encompass test helps empower families to be proactive when it comes to preeclampsia. It’s about equipping expecting parents with the knowledge they need to face any possibility with confidence.