Expectations subscribers will receive an action alert on this critical legislation soon!
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) joined the Preeclampsia Foundation to announce our endorsement of new bipartisan legislation introduced March 2 that will enable states to address preventable maternal deaths and the devastating and costly health consequences that threaten the lives of moms and babies across the country.
The
Preventing Maternal Deaths Act of 2017 (H.R. 1318) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Congressman Ryan Costello (R-PA), and Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO).
"We're very pleased to provide joint leadership with ACOG for this effort and thank these members of Congress for introducing legislation that will drastically reduce maternal death and disability across the United States," said Eleni Tsigas, executive director of the Preeclampsia Foundation.
It takes all of us to solve the preeclampsia puzzle
Have you or any of your family members EVER had preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, or high blood pressure in pregnancy? Please consider enrolling in The Preeclampsia Registry at
Preeclampsia and related hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are life-threatening to the mother and her unborn baby. Your story, medical and pregnancy history, and ongoing health reporting will help scientists unravel all the pieces of this puzzle.
Our goal is to have well over 10,000 participants including women directly affected, their sisters, and even friends who were not affected (to serve as "controls"). To learn more or enroll, go to
www.PreeclampsiaRegistry.org. If you have questions, please email [email protected].
After preeclampsia: Listen to your heart, it may be telling you something
You may know that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women. Here's what you may not know: preeclampsia, a pregnancy disorder, puts women at increased risk for heart disease as well as stroke and high blood pressure later in life.
Preeclampsia occurs in 5% to 8% of all pregnancies and is characterized by high blood pressure accompanied with protein in the urine or other physical symptoms such as a severe persistent headache and vision changes. Although most women who experience preeclampsia return to normal blood pressure within several months after delivery, preeclampsia survivors are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease after pregnancy and throughout their lives.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to a variety of health complications related to the heart and blood vessels, including high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease. You have probably heard cigarette smoking, poor diet, and lack of physical activity referred to as "risk factors," meaning that they contribute to the development of CVD. In 2011, for the first time, the American Heart Association included a history of preeclampsia as a risk factor for CVD in its guidelines.
Although research is still ongoing, some scientists believe that preeclampsia doesn't actually cause future heart disease and stroke - rather, the bodily changes of pregnancy unmask a woman's underlying risk for CVD. In that sense, having a history of preeclampsia is similar to having a family history of heart disease or stroke. Other scientists, based on animal studies, suggest that having preeclampsia may cause damage that contributes to your increased risk. So, as a preeclampsia survivor, what does this mean for your health immediately and several years after your pregnancy?
As
Promise Walk for Preeclampsia season approaches, join us for the "2017 Delivering Change Challenge"
to raise funds for your team! Just follow these easy steps:
Step 1: Email [email protected]to request your "Delivering Change" label(s). The campaign will run through March 31.
Step 2: Grab a container, ANY container, and place your "Delivering Change" label(s) on it. Consider setting up one for your home, one for work, one for church/synagogue, etc.
Step 3: Spread the word that you're competing in the "Delivering Change" challenge to see who can raise the most spare change from now through March 31. Use the following message via email and social media, and make sure to tag three friends in your Facebook or Twitter post who you are challenging to also collect their change:
"I am participating in the Preeclampsia Foundation's Delivering Change Challenge by filling this container with my spare change from now through the end of March to support more healthy moms and babies. Bring me your change! I challenge you to set up your own Delivering Change jar by emailing [email protected]."
Step 4: Put your labeled container out in a visible spot - on your desk or in the break room at work or at home on your counter, and collect change! Spread the word through your friends and family. If you have a child who's participating, have him or her ask all your relatives!
Step 5: Collect your donations through March 31.
Final step: Convert your change to a cashier's check or money order and mail to our office at Preeclampsia Foundation, 6905 N. Wickham Road, Suite 302, Melbourne, FL 32940. Make sure to note your name, your team's name, and "Delivering Change Challenge" in the check memo line. We'll celebrate with a shout out to all the awesome people who participated in mid-April!
Pre-order yours today -- Understanding Pre-eclampsia: A Guide for Parents and Midwives
In 1992, UK medical doctor and professor
Chris Redman and preeclampsia survivor
Isabel Walker co-wrote the ground-breaking book
Pre-eclampsia: The Facts. Published by Oxford University Press just months before the two founders launched the Action on Pre-eclampsia (APEC) charity group in the UK, the book was aimed to help patients and healthcare providers understand preeclampsia and how to detect, diagnose, and manage the condition.
Though some things have stayed the same, thankfully there have been a few major advancements in the way that preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are diagnosed and managed since 1992.
Now, 25 years later, Redman and Walker are publishing an updated edition called Understanding Pre-eclampsia: A Guide for Parents and Midwives. This time, they have included an additional midwife's perspective by collaborating with academic midwife Joyce Cowan from New Zealand. Additionally, the authors have included hundreds of first-person accounts from women across the globe, including members of our Preeclampsia Foundation community. These testimonies help to bear witness to the deep emotional and psychological effects of preeclampsia on real women across the globe.
This book is now available for pre-order through the Preeclampsia Foundation for a reduced price of $20 (full retail cost once published will be $25). A portion of the proceeds from the sale of books ordered through the Preeclampsia Foundation will directly benefit our mission of education and awareness. Anticipated publish date will be May 2017, with shipment out in the following weeks.
P.S.
Thanks for keeping in touch with the Preeclampsia Foundation!
Our patient education and research funding could not happen without you. If you like this content and want to get more out to families like yours, please make a gift at
preeclampsia.org/donate.
In 1992, UK medical doctor and professor
