Is Preeclampsia a part of your story?

It’s a part of my story; and it’s why I’ve become a passionate advocate for a cause very near to my heart.

On Saturday, May 18, The St. Louis Promise Walk for Preeclampsia features a family-friendly 1-mile walk at Millennium Park in Creve Coeur, Missouri.  Features of the morning include a bounce house (free with walk registration) and crafts in a picturesque park with a playground central to all activities.  Registration begins at 9AM.  For more information about the St. Louis walk and to register, go to www.promisewalk.org/stlouis.

Preeclampsia is part of my story.

It happened so fast.  My first healthy pregnancy quickly turned life-threatening as I woke up one morning with flu-like symptoms, only to discover a very high blood pressure and a diagnosis of preeclampsia, and later, HELLP Syndrome.  My next pregnancy was slower to become critical with preeclampsia yet ended abruptly with blood pressure difficulties and an emergency cesarean due to placental abruptions and high blood pressure.  Both myself and my boys survived; we are lucky.  Not all families leave the hospital together.  Each day I look at my growing boys with gratitude that we were so well taken care of during such a confusing and scary time.

What can you do?

Preeclampsia is a disease that occurs during pregnancy and the immediate postpartum period, and it affects both the mother and fetus, according to the Preeclampsia Foundation.  It often happens without warning to the healthiest of pregnancies, and is characterized by elevated blood pressure and protein in the urine.  Other symptoms include swelling, headaches and visual disturbances.  It may affect the mother’s kidneys, liver and other vital organs, and may lead to seizures, cerebral hemorrhage, failure in vital organs and death.  Research is also indicating that the effects of preeclampsia are long-term, as survivors of preeclampsia are at higher risks of high blood pressure, heart attacks, stroke, blood clots, and kidney disease.

Sadly, preeclampsia is still not fully understood, and the only cure for the condition begins with delivery.  Almost 300,000 women each year are affected by preeclampsia.  It is the leading cause of preterm birth and is responsible for approximately 76,000 maternal deaths and a half million infant deaths worldwide each year.

Awareness is happening; but we need your support.  May is the National Preeclampsia Awareness Month.  Locally, with the support from Governor Jay Nixon, Mayor Francis Slay and County Executive Charlie Dooley, May is also Preeclampsia Awareness Month in the state of Missouri, as well as the City and County of St. Louis.

The Preeclampsia Foundation is the only national nonprofit patient advocacy organization for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Through their national fundraising events such as the Promise Walk for Preeclampsia™, the Preeclampsia Foundation works to achieve its mission to provide patient support and education, raise public awareness, catalyze research and improve health care practices. Together, we envision a world where preeclampsia no longer threatens the lives of mothers and babies. Knowing the warning signs can lead to more timely diagnosis and better outcomes.

You’re invited!

Please join us on Saturday, May 18, as we bring awareness of preeclampsia to the St. Louis community in an effort to provide support, share knowledge and embrace life at our most precious moments.

For more information, call or email Jen McCurdy at stlouis@preeclampsia.org or (314) 246-9891.