I had ‘scary’ preeclampsia — here’s what other moms should know

Bronx mom Amanda Perez is hoping to sleep in on Sunday for Mother’s Day — but she knows that’s not likely with two boys under 2.

Perez’s sons are 22 months apart, but her pregnancies were worlds apart. Her first one was “terrifying” because she was diagnosed with preeclampsia, a serious condition that’s responsible for over 70,000 maternal deaths and 500,000 fetal deaths around the world each year.

“I actually didn’t really tell anybody that I was pregnant because I was so scared of what could happen,” Perez, 32, recalled to The Post.

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Perez credits NYU Langone’s Postpartum Cardiovascular Health Program, a Manhattan-based partnership of cardiology and maternal–fetal medicine, with safely guiding her through both pregnancies and kick-starting her healthier lifestyle.

The NYU Langone initiative, which began in earnest in 2022, focuses on identifying women at high risk for cardiovascular disease early in their pregnancy, closely monitoring them during the pregnancy and several months postpartum, and developing a plan to keep their heart strong for years to come.

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“We see all these scientific reports that maybe within five to 10 years, women with preeclampsia could have cardiovascular health issues, maybe they develop long-term blood pressure issues and hypertension,” NYU Langone maternal and fetal medicine specialist Dr. Christina Penfield told The Post. “What we’re trying to do is intervene early.”

Perez was one of the first to sign up for the program after experiencing high blood pressure at the start of her pregnancy. High blood pressure increases the risk of preeclampsia, which affects about 1 in 25 US pregnancies.

The life-threatening complication is typically diagnosed midway through pregnancy. The exact cause of preeclampsia is not known, but it’s thought to be tied to problems with the placenta.

Diabetes, obesity, advanced maternal age and a family history of preeclampsia are among the risk factors — though there’s no absolute way to prevent the condition. A healthy diet can help reduce the risk, but once diagnosed, medication may be prescribed for severe cases.

If left untreated, the condition can lead to organ damage, seizures and even death of the mother and baby.

Treatment involves managing the condition until a healthy baby can be delivered — which can be challenging depending on how early and how severe the case is. Although the condition eventually resolves after birth, doctors will continue to monitor the mother’s blood pressure and other factors for weeks or longer postpartum. And, as Penfield noted, long-term health issues can persist years later.

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Perez had not heard of preeclampsia before she got pregnant — and she was afraid to learn about it.

“I really didn’t want to look anything up because I know it would just make me more scared,” said Perez, who noted she also struggled to keep food — and water — in her system during her “tough” first pregnancy.

Her fears were quelled when she began treatment with Penfield, who launched the postpartum cardiovascular health program with NYU Langone cardiologist Dr. Anaïs Hausvater and Dr. Jeffrey S. Berger, director of the Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease.

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Perez’s care team got her blood pressure under control and monitored her vital signs, bloodwork and urine through regular visits. She was diagnosed with preeclampsia around 28 weeks, after protein was discovered in her urine. Penfield recommended Perez deliver at 37 weeks.

“At first I was really scared because I didn’t understand the concept of the baby being fully formed at 37 weeks because it’s always, like, drilled into your head — 40 weeks,” Perez said. “After 34 weeks, I think I came into more peace of, like, yeah, he needs to come out early.”

Perez delivered Lucas without issue on May 15, 2022, at NYU Langone’s Tisch Hospital.

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Things went much more smoothly for Perez the second time around.

She was “a lot less scared” and “much more at peace” — and she was healthier. Her blood pressure was down, she had lost weight, she had been walking more, and she had been ditching salty foods in favor of fish and vegetables after meeting with an NYU Langone nutritionist.

“I knew going in, if something happens, they’re going to catch it. They’re going to take care of me,” Perez said of her NYU Langone support system.

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Perez didn’t develop preeclampsia for her second pregnancy and welcomed Daniel on March 19. She plans to eventually add to her family — and now she knows how to take good care of herself.

“I’m so happy that they have this [program] now, and more women are going to be able to utilize it,” Perez enthused. “Some of the [obstetricians] that I’ve had during this pregnancy told me that they referred women to the program, which makes me so excited because it’s so important to keep up that aftercare.”

Penfield said Perez is “becoming the poster child of the program.” Hundreds of women have since signed up — and the plan is to add additional providers. Patients can be referred from any NYU Langone location.

“Our hope is that this program will grow and follow patients longitudinally for decades,” said Penfield, who added that what sets the NYU Langone program apart is the expertise of the specialists and the continuity of care.

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How often Hausvater sees preeclampsia patients after they give birth depends on their risk profile. It may be immediately following delivery if their blood pressure is unstable or three months postpartum if they don’t have high blood pressure. There’s a checkup a year after birth, with the goal to assess cardiovascular risk factors every year.

“A lot of the patients we see at NYU are very well-informed in terms of their health — and they’re motivated to take care of their health — but we were surprised by how many patients were really excited about this program,” Hausvater said. “These birth outcomes can be very traumatic for a lot of patients, so I think they feel better that they’re followed so closely.”