Preeclampsia Foundation

Preeclampsia Foundation Educate, support, and engage the affected community, improve healthcare practices, & accelerating research. This site does not give medical advice.
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***disclaimer*** Contact your medical professional or 911 in case of an emergency. Please check the preeclampsia community forums (www.preeclampsia.org/forum) and hotline (800-665-9341) for urgent questions/concerns. This is not an entry point for quick answers.

06/23/2026

High blood pressure during pregnancy is one of the biggest red flags that preeclampsia may be developing. And even if it's not a symptom of preeclampsia, it can still be a sign of a problem.

High blood pressure is traditionally defined as blood pressure of 140/90 or greater, measured on two separate occasions at least four hours apart. During pregnancy, a rise in the lower number (diastolic) of 15 degrees or more, or a rise in the upper number (systolic) of 30 degrees or more can also be a cause for concern.

What you can do:

➡️Know your blood pressure prior to pregnancy, especially if it's normally considered low. Ask, "What is my blood pressure?" during each prenatal visit with your healthcare provider.

➡️Keep a log of your blood pressure, taken at the same time each day and in the same position. Share your log with your healthcare provider at each visit and notify her immediately if you find any significant rise between visits.

You can buy your own blood pressure monitor at most pharmacies. If you own your own monitor, have it calibrated with those used in your provider’s office.

For accuracy, blood pressure readings should be taken in the sitting position, with the cuff positioned on the left arm at the level of the heart.

If you get a blood pressure reading:
Below 140/90, keep checking your blood pressure
Between 140-159/90-109, call your provider and report your numbers
More than 160/110, seek immediate emergency care by reporting to labor and delivery or the ER

❗Please note that home monitors are not always as accurate as those used in clinics or hospitals. Home readings should never replace prenatal visits, nor should a "normal" reading mean you can ignore other symptoms of preeclampsia.❗

Learn more about blood pressure and how to take it here: https://www.preeclampsia.org/blood-pressure

We are seeking Letters of Intent now through August 14 for the Peter Joseph Pappas Research Grants funding program. The ...
06/23/2026

We are seeking Letters of Intent now through August 14 for the Peter Joseph Pappas Research Grants funding program.

The ultimate goal is to drive research that will eliminate the delivery of pre-term babies as an intervention for severe preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, and related hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Named for the infant son of preeclampsia survivor Lauren Pappas and her husband Clement, the program seeks to award multiple two-year grants totaling up to $200,000.

Eligible applicants should focus on the current research gaps identified through a 2020 preeclampsia workshop jointly sponsored by the Preeclampsia Foundation and the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine.

Examples of such proposals include but are not limited to understanding pathophysiological pathways and subtypes of preeclampsia, mechanisms for improved diagnosis or prediction, therapeutic interventions to halt, reverse, or prevent the placental and organ dysfunction associated with the condition, and supporting preconception and inter-conception health to improve perinatal outcomes. In addition to meeting the fund’s research criteria, preference will be given to proposals that use or build upon data available through the Preeclampsia Registry™.

For criteria and application instructions, please visit www.preeclampsia.org/research-funding.

There is currently no cure for preeclampsia, but could the development of new placental therapeutics offer another optio...
06/23/2026

There is currently no cure for preeclampsia, but could the development of new placental therapeutics offer another option?

Researchers wanted to study these interventions as well. They explored a new way to deliver treatments to the placenta using the same kind of technology behind some mRNA vaccines. The study focused on tiny fat-based particles called lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and how effectively they can deliver mRNA into placental cells. Specifically, researchers examined 1st and 3rd trimester trophoblasts (cells that form early in pregnancy and help build the placenta) under low-oxygen conditions—a key factor in placental dysfunction. mRNA works like a set of instructions, telling cells to produce specific proteins the body needs, such as placental growth factor (PlGF).

This research is still at an early stage (lab-based, not yet tested in pregnant patients). But it suggests that mRNA therapies could one day be used to treat placental problems directly. Low PlGF is strongly linked to preeclampsia and if this therapy could increase the PlGF levels, it might improve blood flow and help the placenta function more effectively.

If future studies confirm these findings, doctors might eventually be able to deliver targeted treatments during pregnancy to improve placental function and support healthier outcomes for both moms and babies.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE: The development of new placental therapeutics may offer ways to deliver targeted treatments at the source rather than only monitoring symptoms and appropriately timing delivery. More research and testing are needed. Patients should always consult with their medical team about their care plan.

Read more: https://www.preeclampsia.org/the-news/research/are-there-new-developments-in-nanomedicine-and-placental-therapeutics-for-preeclampsia

06/22/2026

Thousands of women and babies get very sick each year from a dangerous condition called preeclampsia, a life-threatening hypertensive disorder that occurs only during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Preeclampsia and related hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are most often characterized by a rapid rise in blood pressure that can lead to seizure, stroke, multiple organ failure, and even death of the mother and/or baby.

Our Purpose is to improve the outcomes of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy by educating, supporting, and engaging the community, improving healthcare practices, and accelerating research.

We envision a world where hypertensive disorders of pregnancy no longer threaten the lives of mothers and their babies.

There are many ways you can get involved in the mission of the Preeclampsia Foundation. Learn how here: https://www.preeclampsia.org/get-involved

Take 10 minutes to complete the intake survey of the Preeclampsia Registry and add your pregnancy experience to preeclam...
06/22/2026

Take 10 minutes to complete the intake survey of the Preeclampsia Registry and add your pregnancy experience to preeclampsia research efforts. Whether you have had preeclampsia, had a loved one who experienced it, or just want to contribute your pregnancy history to improve outcomes, everyone has a role they can play to improve research by, for, and about Black and Brown moms. The vast majority of people who participate in clinical trials are white, so there simply is not enough research about how preeclampsia affects Black and Brown women, or the different way in which we experience maternal healthcare. We deserve better. The Take Ten campaign is a call-to-action to our resilient community of Black women.

Ten minutes of your time ensures that communities of color are better represented, informed, and equipped to save the lives of future Black and Brown mothers. These are our daughters, our nieces, our granddaughters, our sisters, our friends – and they deserve better pregnancy outcomes through research that supports and represents their distinct experiences.

Learn more: https://www.preeclampsia.org/take10

For today's we are sharing Victoria's story with Victoria writes, " went in that morning for a routine glucose test,...
06/21/2026

For today's we are sharing Victoria's story with

Victoria writes, " went in that morning for a routine glucose test, expecting nothing more than the usual sugary drink and a long wait. But something felt off. My baby wasn’t moving like he normally did. Usually, he was my little reassurance throughout the day—kicks, rolls, tiny flutters that reminded me he was okay. That morning, there was a quiet that I couldn’t ignore.

I mentioned it to the doctor. She listened to the heartbeat and told me everything sounded fine. She reassured me that babies have quieter days. Still, my intuition wouldn’t settle. I asked if we could do a non-stress test, just to be sure. Thankfully, she agreed and let me stay an extra 20 minutes.

The NST came back inconclusive.

To help me “sleep easy,” she ordered an ultrasound. I remember lying there, staring at the ceiling, trying to convince myself I was overreacting. But then the room shifted. The tone changed. They found that my baby was in distress.

Everything moved fast after that.

When I arrived at the hospital, my blood pressure was 254/145 — numbers I now know were dangerously high. Within 20 minutes of getting there, my world changed. At just 29 weeks, my baby was delivered because of severe preeclampsia.

He was only a little over one pound when he was born — impossibly tiny, yet fiercely strong. He spent 73 long days in the NICU, fighting and growing one ounce at a time. Those days were filled with monitors, alarms, prayers, and hope.

Looking back, I realize my body had been trying to warn me. I had swelling that doctors brushed off as typical pregnancy symptoms, and headaches that felt similar to my normal migraines. I didn’t recognize that together, they could be signs of dangerously high blood pressure.

What started as a routine glucose test became the day my intuition saved my baby’s life.

I will never forget that quiet feeling that told me something wasn’t right — and I will always be grateful I listened."

Read more: https://www.preeclampsia.org/our-stories/first-pregnancy

Happy Father's Day! Sending love to all fathers and fathers-to-be today! ❤️
06/21/2026

Happy Father's Day! Sending love to all fathers and fathers-to-be today! ❤️

06/20/2026

The preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, and eclampsia experience affects dads and partners too. Oftentimes, there is a sense of helplessness as your spouse or partner is in one part of the hospital and your baby is in the NICU or even another facility entirely. Other times, you may stand beside your partner as they are readmitted postpartum and face separation from their baby. Sadly, sometimes dads are grieving the loss of their baby with their partners due to preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, or eclampsia. Tragically, some dads are left behind as widows.

Whatever the circumstances may be, we at the Preeclampsia Foundation know that partners of patients are affected emotionally by the experience, too. This weekend, as we recognize Father's Day in the United States, we remember and honor the "other half" of the pregnancy story.

For today's we are sharing Marie's story with Marie writes, "At 40 weeks pregnant, I went in for a routine check...
06/20/2026

For today's we are sharing Marie's story with

Marie writes, "At 40 weeks pregnant, I went in for a routine check and monitoring appointment. I had a mild headache, nothing alarming. My urine sample showed protein. At first, my nurse practitioner wasn’t overly concerned. She asked about headaches and abdominal pain — symptoms I had experienced over the previous few days but hadn’t taken seriously.

As the appointment continued, she began to worry. She initially planned to wait for the lab results the next day, but when she noticed the swelling in my feet, everything shifted. She immediately called the on-call OB at the hospital and told me to drive there right away.

When I arrived, my blood pressure was through the roof — even though it had been completely normal less than 30 minutes earlier. I was started on magnesium and prepared for induction. I was developing HELLP syndrome. Despite the severity, the team agreed to wait four hours to give me a chance at a vaginal delivery.

Thankfully, my body responded quickly to the induction, and I delivered my daughter very quickly. Mahault was born slightly growth-restricted. The birth was further complicated by a postpartum hemorrhage that affected me.

In the days that followed, my blood pressure remained dangerously high. I was kept under close medical supervision with repeated monitoring and was ultimately placed on antihypertensive medication for several weeks.

Because this was my second delivery complicated by a hemorrhage — my first birth had also involved significant bleeding — I was strongly advised against pursuing a third pregnancy. The combination of recurrent hemorrhage and severe preeclampsia with HELLP syndrome places me at high risk if I were to carry another child.

This was not just a difficult delivery. It was a life-threatening event that has lasting implications for my health and our family’s future."

Read more: https://www.preeclampsia.org/our-stories/the-most-difficult-yet-most-beautiful-day

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