Amanda Perez, a Bronx mother, wants to sleep in on Mother’s Day Sunday, but with two boys under 2, she knows that’s not possible.
Perez’s sons are 22 months apart, but her pregnancy was a world of difference. Her first experience was “horrifying”. Because she was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. a serious condition that causes Every year, more than 70,000 pregnant women and 500,000 unborn children die worldwide.
“I actually couldn’t tell anyone that I was pregnant because I was scared of what would happen,” Perez, 32, told the Post.
Perez credits New York University Langone College for its work. Postnatal cardiovascular health programa Manhattan-based cardiology and maternal-fetal medicine partnership, can guide her safely through pregnancy and start a healthier lifestyle.
Launching in earnest in 2022, the Langone initiative identifies women at high risk for cardiovascular disease early in pregnancy, monitors them closely during pregnancy and in the months following birth, and develops a plan to keep their hearts strong for years to come. The emphasis is on standing. .
“We’re seeing all the scientific reports that say, probably within five to 10 years, women with preeclampsia are more likely to have cardiovascular health problems and develop long-term blood pressure problems and hypertension. ” Langone maternal-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 enroll in the program after experiencing high blood pressure during her first trimester.High blood pressure increases the risk of Preeclampsia, which affects 1 in 25 pregnancies in the United States.
Life-threatening complications are usually diagnosed during the second trimester. The exact cause of preeclampsia is unknown, but it is thought to be related to problems with the placenta.
Risk factors include diabetes, obesity, advanced maternal age, and family history of preeclampsia, but there is no foolproof way to prevent the condition. Medications may be prescribed in severe cases, but dietary changes may help with mild preeclampsia.
If left untreated, it can lead to organ damage, seizures, and even death for mother and baby.
The surest way to cure preeclampsia is to give birth, so early delivery is often recommended.
Perez had never heard of preeclampsia until she became pregnant. And she was afraid to find out about it.
“I really didn’t want to look into anything because I knew it would only make me more scared,” Perez said. She also struggled to keep food and water in her body during her “tough” first pregnancy, she said.
Once she began treatment with Dr. Penfield, her fears subsided. Dr. Penfield launched the Postpartum Cardiovascular Health Program with Langone cardiologist Anais Hausbater, MD, and Jeffrey S. Berger, MD, director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention.
Perez’s care team controlled her blood pressure and monitored her vital signs, blood tests, and urine through regular visits. She was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia around 28 weeks of pregnancy after protein was detected in her urine. Penfield recommended that Perez give birth at 37 weeks.
“It was really scary at first because I didn’t understand the concept of a baby being fully formed at 37 weeks, because it’s like it’s always being drilled into my head at 40 weeks. ” Perez said. “After 34 weeks, I think he’s calmer and more like, oh, he needs to come out fast.”
Perez safely gave birth to Lucas on May 15, 2022 at NYU Langone’s Tisch Hospital.
Things went much more smoothly for Perez the second time around.
She became “much less afraid,” “more at peace,” and healthier. Since she met with Langone’s nutritionist, her blood pressure has decreased, she has lost weight, she is walking more, and she has stopped eating salty foods and started eating fish and vegetables.
“Going in, I knew that if something happened, they would catch me. They would take care of me,” Perez said of Langone’s support system.
Perez did not develop pre-eclampsia during her second pregnancy and welcomed Daniel on March 19th. She plans to eventually expand her family and she now knows how to take care of herself.
“I’m so glad they have this.” [program] Now more women will have access to it,” Perez enthused. “Several [obstetricians] Someone told me that they introduced this program to women during pregnancy, so I’m really excited because it’s so important to continue with aftercare. ”
Penfield said Perez is “becoming the poster child for the program.” Since then, hundreds of women have signed up and we plan to add more providers. Patients can be referred from anywhere in Langone.
“Our hope is that this program will grow and follow patients longitudinally over many decades,” Penfield said, adding that the Langone program is unique in that it combines the expertise of experts and treatment He added that it is about continuity.
How often Dr. Hausbutter sees a patient with preeclampsia after delivery depends on their risk profile. It may occur immediately after giving birth if your blood pressure is unstable, or after 3 months postpartum if you do not have high blood pressure. A physical examination is performed during the first year of life to assess cardiovascular risk factors annually.
“Many of the patients we see at NYU are very knowledgeable about their health and motivated to take care of their health. But many of our patients are really excited about this program. That surprised us,” Hausbutter said. He said. “These birth outcomes can be very traumatic for many patients, so I think it will be comforting for them to be followed up so closely.”
