Preeclampsia, in all of its forms, can mean a lot of testing both during and after pregnancy.

Have you ever wondered why your healthcare provider is running so many tests? Or what those tests mean? This guide explains what tests may be done during and after pregnancy, when, and why.

DURING PREGNANCY

Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy that can happen to any woman, in any pregnancy. While preeclampsia frequently occurs during a first pregnancy, it can occur in any pregnancy. Preeclampsia is diagnosed by persistent high blood pressure that develops for the first time after mid-pregnancy or right after delivery. It is associated with either high levels of protein in the urine OR the new development of decreased blood platelets, trouble with the kidneys or liver, fluid in the lungs, or signs of brain trouble such as severe headache and/or visual disturbances.

When you become pregnant, you have regular visits with your provider who routinely checks your blood pressure to make sure it isn't too high. A urine sample is also usually tested at each visit with a dipstick to make sure your kidneys are healthy. Any excess amount of protein found in a urine sample is known as "proteinuria", and may or may not be present in patients who are diagnosed with preeclampsia.

Prenatal visits are scheduled closer together near the end of the pregnancy. At 32 weeks in an uncomplicated pregnancy, visits are usually every two weeks; at 36 weeks they become weekly. Patient with higher risks are seen more frequently.

We are incredibly excited for the dozens of you who have contacted us about becoming a host for an upcoming " Party with a Purpose" event this fall!

Donor Relations Coordinator Sara Gauthier will be hosting a "  Party with a Purpose: Box of Supplies Reveal" via Facebook Live on Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 7 pm EDT.

You can be the first to see all the goodies that we'll be sending you as a host of a party this fall! Just RSVP for the event, then tune in to our Facebook page on Wednesday evening when she goes live. She'll also be sharing some good tips and tricks about how to share the importance of this cause with your friends and family at your gathering.

The Preeclampsia Foundation has announced that Sarah Schalekamp-Timmermans, MD, PhD, and Jacqueline Parchem, MD, are the recipients of its 2016 Vision Grants, highly competitive monetary awards recognizing the best young investigators with novel research ideas in preeclampsia and related hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. These two $20,000 research grants are awarded to the strongest scientific proposals recommended by the Preeclampsia Foundation's scientific review committee with a further review by a consumer advisory board. The Foundation's Board of Directors renders the final decision on those recommendations.

In October, we recognize the many families in our community who have been touched by pregnancy and infant loss. Your families' experiences motivate our mission all throughout the year, but we take time this month to help publicly recognize the lasting impact of loss.

In honor of October 15 as National Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Day, we will be doing a special photo with all the attendees, staff and board members at the Preeclampsia and HELLP Syndrome Patient Advocates Summit in Orlando, FL.

Look for these sharable photos and other awareness-raising tools by following our Facebook page.