Whether you’re navigating your first pregnancy or this isn’t your first rodeo, it’s not out of this world to still feel like a beginner. Your body is changing and reacting to growing a baby, which can look unique for each person and each pregnancy. For some women, this can include intolerable morning sickness, unexpected random cravings, or developing conditions like gestational diabetes or preeclampsia.
While nausea and fatigue may bubble to the surface in your first trimester, the early signs of preeclampsia — a pregnancy complication related to your blood pressure that can impact both mom and baby — don’t typically start showing up until after your 20-week milestone.
What is preeclampsia?
Dr. Eduardo Hariton, MD, MBA, and a fertility specialist at the Reproductive Science Center of the San Francisco Bay Area, explains that preeclampsia is “characterized by high blood pressure and signs of organ damage, often involving the kidneys or liver.”
According to the CDC, anywhere from 5 to 7 percent of pregnancies are affected by the condition.
“While preeclampsia cannot always be prevented, steps such as maintaining a healthy weight, managing blood pressure, taking prenatal vitamins with calcium and folic acid, and regularly attending prenatal check-ups can reduce risk,” says Dr. Hariton.
Dr. Hariton adds that a doctor may also prescribe low-dose aspirin for anyone who is at high risk of preeclampsia.
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So, does preeclampsia come from the father or the mother?
Certain pre-existing conditions can increase someone’s risk for preeclampsia. Some of those pre-existing conditions include being pregnant with more than one baby, a first pregnancy, a history of kidney disease, preeclampsia, high blood pressure, or getting pregnant through IVF.
The question about whether preeclampsia originates from dad or mom is a little bit more complicated.
“Some studies suggest that preeclampsia may be related to paternal factors,” explains Dr. Hariton. “However, more research is needed in this area. It is not typically determined by testing the male partner but by evaluating family history and risk factors.”
While a doctor will focus more on the course of action to curb any potential added risk, this doesn’t mean that your physical and mental health isn’t strained by the possibility (or confirmed diagnosis) of having preeclampsia.
Melissa Bronstein, LCSW, suggests staying grounded and prioritizing your self-care habits as you and your partner contend with preeclampsia and its risks.
“It can be helpful to remember that your partner may be navigating a lot of stress, overwhelm and/or anxiety, and that you are on the same team,” adds Bronstein. “Finding ways to work on healthy communication with your partner is key, in addition to finding your own outlets for processing stress and emotions. Whether it's your own self-care practice, talking to a trusted loved one (if your partner is open to you sharing the diagnosis), or seeking your own therapy support so you have an open place to express your feelings.”
What should you do after a preeclampsia diagnosis?
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First, let’s focus on how you’ll be diagnosed. According to Dr. Hariton, your care team will track your blood pressure and the presence of a specific protein in your urine to determine if you have preeclampsia.
“Treatment depends on the severity and timing of the diagnosis,” explains Dr. Hariton. “For mild cases, monitoring and lifestyle modifications may suffice, while severe cases often require hospitalization, medications to lower blood pressure, and early delivery.”
Like with many aspects of pregnancy, the list of what you can control is often not as long as you wish it was. However, with early detection and preemptive care (like taking the right vitamins or attending regular checkups), you can reduce your risk as much as possible.
“Everyone's needs are different, and finding what works best for you is important,” adds Bronstein. “Generally speaking, establishing a trusted care team is a great first step. Remaining in close contact with your OB and having an understanding of what to look out for can be helpful in knowing what is normal and when to seek additional medical attention. It can also be helpful to lean on your trusted support, whether that is a partner, friends, or family.”
Once you have your care team established and you know your doctor’s marching orders, you can also focus on the ways preeclampsia may be impacting your mental health.
“Developing preeclampsia could certainly cause an increase in stress, worry or have other impacts on someone's mental health,” notes Bronstein. “A pregnant person/couple will want to look out for any significant changes in mood, like an increase in worries, panic, or sadness/teariness both during and after pregnancy. While some level of stress and worry may be normal, if these symptoms seem to be increasing or interfering with daily life and your overall health, it may be worth seeking additional support.”
Community support — like a virtual support group of other parents navigating similar circumstances — may also be helpful. The more you can connect with others and yourself (through habits like meditation or deep breathing), the more you’ll be taking care of both your mental health and physical health during this time.
Vivian Nunez is a writer. Her award-winning Instagram community has created pathways for speaking about mental health and grief. She hosts the podcast, Happy To Be Here, and has been featured by Spotify, Instagram, Netflix, CBS This Morning, Oprah! The Magazine, and more. You can find Vivian @vivnunez on Instagram/TikTok and her writing on vivnunez.substack.com.