PSA: What is preeclampsia?

Last week I really just wanted to share on how well our baby girl is doing (and today's ultrasound she is 2½ lbs 😍, still preeclampsia free!). However I also feel the need to share information about things that aren't talked about as much. Most people are misinformed on what they think they know about preeclampsia and I'm hoping I can provide clarity!

Preeclampsia is actually a problem of the placenta, not lifestyle. It is how well the mother’s DNA and father’s DNA work together to build the placenta, and then how well that placenta works with the mother’s immune system to develop a blood supply. 😲 In some cases, her immune system overreacts to the foreign DNA from the father the first time, which prevents the placenta from implanting properly and leads to preeclampsia. 🧬 Typically, subsequent pregnancies are less prone to this reaction, as the mother becomes more accustomed to the father's DNA.

None of this is affected by diet or stress. High blood pressure is only a symptom. Even if stress causes a temporary increase in blood pressure, that is a different process from the placenta raising blood pressure. There is nothing you can do to cause it or prevent it. For more information on preeclampsia check out endpreeclampsia.org.

The More You Know 🌈