Pregnancy is a journey filled with pivotal moments and important decisions. Navigating this path with clarity is essential for both your health and your baby's. Understanding your risk for preeclampsia early on is one important way to feel confident on your path forward. With early screening, you can take control, create an action plan, and support the healthiest pregnancy and delivery possible.
To better understand the vital importance of early preeclampsia screening and how it can shape your pregnancy journey, let's explore the risks associated with preeclampsia, why symptom-based detection might not be enough, and how early screening can make a difference.
Preeclampsia affects 1 in 12 pregnancies1 and can lead to serious complications for both you and your baby, including poor growth of your baby, preterm birth, NICU or prolonged hospital stays, maternal seizures, organ damage, and other life-threatening conditions with lifelong impacts. Often, preeclampsia can strike without any warning, so traditional methods of waiting for symptoms like swelling, headaches, and vision changes, and hoping for the best can mean that the condition is already at a dangerous stage. But by knowing your risk months before symptoms appear, preeclampsia prevention is possible.
Waiting for symptoms to appear to manage your preeclampsia risk can be incredibly challenging. Symptoms like swelling and headaches often overlap with common pregnancy discomforts, making them so much easier to overlook. Other signs, like high blood pressure and protein in the urine, can stay under the radar without regular checkups. And to top it all off, some women with preeclampsia exhibit no symptoms at all. Early screening can tell you whether you’re at risk of preeclampsia months before any symptoms manifest, providing a crucial window for preventative measures.
Without knowing your risk for preeclampsia early in pregnancy, the critical window to put a preventive action plan in place becomes that much smaller. Encompass can predict your risk months before any symptoms appear. This simple blood test can be done between 18 and 22 weeks of pregnancy, offering you and your OB provider an objective look at your risk profile. By knowing your risk early, you can work with your OB provider on a personalized action plan that addresses your specific needs, so you know you’re doing all that you can to support the best possible outcomes for you and your baby.
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.
Staying informed and proactive is vital in managing your pregnancy health and mitigating your preeclampsia risk. So go ahead and attend those prenatal classes, read up on reliable sources, and engage in open conversations with your healthcare providers. Understanding the signs and symptoms of preeclampsia is important, but focusing on preventive care based on your risk factor results is even more critical. Equip yourself with the knowledge and tools to support a healthy pregnancy journey for you and your baby.