I had ‘scary’ preeclampsia – here’s what other mums need to know

Bronx mom Amanda Perez is hoping to sleep in Sunday for Mother’s Day — but she knows that’s unlikely with two boys under 2.

Perez’s sons are 22 months apart, but her pregnancies were very different. Her first was “terrifying” because she was diagnosed with preeclampsia, a serious condition that is responsible for over 70,000 maternal deaths and 500,000 fetal deaths worldwide each year.

“I actually didn’t tell anyone I was pregnant because I was so afraid of what might happen,” Perez, 32, recalled to The Post.

Perez credits NYU Langone’s Postpartum Cardiovascular Health Program, a Manhattan-based partnership of cardiology and maternal-fetal medicine, with guiding her safely through both pregnancies and kick-starting a healthier lifestyle.

The NYU Langone initiative, which began in earnest in 2022, focuses on identifying women at high risk for cardiovascular disease early in pregnancy, closely monitoring during pregnancy and several months after birth, and developing a plan to keep the heart healthy. their strong for years. come on

“We see all these scientific reports that maybe within five to 10 years, women with preeclampsia can have cardiovascular health problems, maybe they develop long-term blood pressure and hypertension problems,” he told The Posto. “What we’re trying to do is intervene early.”

Perez was one of the first to enroll in the program after experiencing high blood pressure early in her pregnancy. High blood pressure increases the risk of preeclampsia, which affects about 1 in 25 pregnancies in the US.

Life-threatening complications are usually diagnosed in mid-pregnancy. The exact cause of preeclampsia is unknown, but it is thought to be related to problems with the placenta.

Diabetes, obesity, advanced maternal age and a family history of preeclampsia are among the risk factors – although there is no absolute way to prevent the condition. A healthy diet can help reduce the risk, but once diagnosed, medication may be prescribed for severe cases.

If left untreated, the condition can lead to organ damage, seizures and even death for both mother and baby.

Treatment involves managing the condition until a healthy baby is born – which can be challenging depending on how early and how severe the case is. Although the condition eventually resolves after delivery, doctors will continue to monitor the mother’s blood pressure and other factors for weeks or longer after delivery. And, as Penfield noted, long-term health issues can persist years later.

Perez hadn’t heard of preeclampsia before she got pregnant — and she was afraid to learn about it.

“I really didn’t want to ask for anything because I know it would just scare me more,” said Perez, who noted that she also struggled to keep food “and water” in her system during ” difficult” of her. first pregnancy.

Her fears were allayed when she began treatment with Penfield, who began a postpartum cardiovascular health program with NYU Langone cardiologist Dr. Anaïs Hausvater and Dr. Jeffrey S. Berger, director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention.

Perez’s care team got her blood pressure under control and monitored her vital signs, blood and urine through regular visits. She was diagnosed with preeclampsia at around 28 weeks, after protein was detected in her urine. Penfield recommended that Perez be delivered at 37 weeks.

“I was really scared at first because I didn’t understand the concept of the baby being fully formed at 37 weeks because it’s always drilled into your head — 40 weeks,” Perez said. “At 34 weeks, I think I became more relaxed, like, yeah, he’s got to come out early.”

Perez gave birth to Lucas without issue on May 15, 2022, at NYU Langone’s Tisch Hospital.

Things went much better for Perez the second time around.

She was “much less scared” and “much calmer” – and she was healthier. Her blood pressure was down, she lost weight, walked more, and ditched salty foods in favor of fish and vegetables after meeting with a nutritionist at NYU Langone.

“I knew going in, if something happens, they’re going to get it. They will take care of me,” Perez said of her support system at NYU Langone.

Perez did not develop preeclampsia for her second pregnancy and welcomed Daniel on March 19. She plans to eventually add to her family – and now she knows how to take good care of herself.

“I’m so glad they have this [program] now, and more women will be able to use it,” Perez enthused. “Some of [obstetricians] that I had during this pregnancy told me that they referred women to the program, which makes me so excited because it’s so important to continue with that aftercare.”

Penfield said Perez is “becoming the poster child of the program.” Hundreds of women have signed up since then – and the plan is to add more providers. Patients may be referred from any NYU Langone location.

“Our hope is that this program will grow and follow patients longitudinally for decades,” said Penfield, who added that what sets NYU Langone’s program apart is the expertise of specialists and continuity of care.

How often Hausvater sees postpartum preeclampsia patients depends on their risk profile. It can be immediately after birth if the blood pressure is unstable or three months after birth if they do not have high blood pressure. There is a check-up one year after birth, with the aim of assessing cardiovascular risk factors every year.

“Many of the patients we see at NYU are very well-informed about their health — and they’re motivated to take care of their health — but we were surprised by how many patients were really excited about this program,” said Hausvater. “These birth outcomes can be very traumatic for many patients, so I think they feel better that they are being followed so closely.”