After all of the endless blood draws, ultrasounds, trigger shots, egg retrievals, embryo transfers, and two-week waits, you’re finally pregnant! For some women, however, it’s hard to feel optimistic after living with infertility. Especially when pregnancy loss is part of the infertility experience for so many people.
It’s natural if anxiety is eclipsing any desire you may have to celebrate your good news because pregnancy carries a new set of risks even for those who didn’t go through infertility. Risks like preeclampsia.
According to a recent large U.S. study, preeclampsia affects 1 in 12 pregnancies. It is a serious condition that can often strike without warning.
So, what is preeclampsia?
It is a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure that usually develops after the 20th week of pregnancy. Although the exact cause isn't fully understood, preeclampsia is believed to stem from early changes in the placenta's development in pregnancy.
Possible complications from preeclampsia include preterm birth, poor infant growth, a NICU and/or prolonged hospital stay, headaches, seizures, or organ damage. It can also lead to lifelong impacts for both mom and baby, even if you don’t have a severe case.
Preeclampsia may not cause any alarming symptoms initially, but can cause poor growth for your baby, increased blood loss during delivery, kidney or liver damage, damage to vessel walls, and high blood pressure.
The good news: prevention is possible if you know your pregnancy’s risk early and have an action plan in place.
We get that after months, possibly years of infertility, the last thing you probably want to hear about is a serious condition that could usurp any joy from your pregnancy. The team at Mirvie, a biotechnology company dedicated to shaping the future of pregnancy health, understands these concerns too. That’s why they’ve developed Encompass, an at-home blood test that can predict your unique risk for preeclampsia and they are currently offering a waitlist for expecting moms to access the test.
How does Encompass work?
By testing your blood at home between weeks 18 and 22 of your pregnancy with Encompass, you can know your preeclampsia risk before symptoms occur. You will also receive an action plan to prevent preeclampsia that is based on your personal risk level. This will provide invaluable clarity on the path ahead for both you and your care team.
Creating a preeclampsia prevention action plan with Encompass
Knowing your preeclampsia risk, even before symptoms start, lets you implement an action plan immediately. Action plans include crucial aspects of prevention like medications, regular lab tests to monitor liver and kidney function, and regular blood pressure checks at home. Other areas include assessing your diet, which may mean incorporating certain foods and dietary supplements at an early stage. All elements should be discussed with your healthcare provider in detail so you know you are doing everything for the healthiest pregnancy possible.
Between medications, monitoring, labs, and diet changes it can be overwhelming to figure out where to start on your action plan. That’s why every Encompass test result includes an SMS-based virtual assistant to simplify implementing your plan. You’ll get health check-ins, reminders, tips, and regular updates to ensure your plan is working for your pregnancy.
Why early detection of preeclampsia is so important
Fertility patients
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If you got pregnant via IVF, there is some research suggesting you may be at a higher risk for preeclampsia but the reasons aren’t fully understood.
By using Encompass early in pregnancy, you can learn your risk and work with your healthcare provider to develop a preventive action plan tailored to your needs no matter how you conceived.
Symptom-based preeclampsia detection isn’t enough
Waiting for symptoms to appear to manage your preeclampsia risk can be incredibly challenging. This is because preeclampsia symptoms like swelling and headaches often overlap with common pregnancy discomforts. Plus, signs like high blood pressure and protein in the urine might be missed without regular, early checkups. Early screening can tell you whether you’re at risk of preeclampsia months before any symptoms manifest, providing a critical window for preventative measures.
We here at Rescripted understand that preeclampsia can be scary to think about, especially if you’re coming off of an infertility rollercoaster. What’s important to remember is that preeclampsia prevention is possible. The Encompass test could be the key to helping you get ahead of preeclampsia before it strikes, so click here to join the Encompass test waitlist. By joining you’ll be first to know when it's available in your area and also get special benefits including exclusive deals, discounts, pregnancy content, and other perks.
Sarene Leeds holds an M.S. in Professional Writing from NYU, and is a seasoned journalist, having written and reported on subjects ranging from TV and pop culture to health, wellness, and parenting over the course of her career. Her work has appeared in Rolling Stone, The Wall Street Journal, Vulture, SheKnows, and numerous other outlets. A staunch mental health advocate, Sarene also hosts the podcast “Emotional Abuse Is Real.” Visit her website here, or follow her on Instagram or Twitter.