At 31 weeks into her third pregnancy, Jennifer Tavares felt as though everything was progressing just like it had with her two previous pregnancies. She had two healthy daughters, and now, she was expecting her first boy. Still working her regular hours as a nurse practitioner at a New Jersey hospital, she had been told that everything was "normal" up until this point.
But one Saturday morning, a headache appeared — a seemingly ordinary occurrence that could be easily attributed to the usual stresses of life. As a busy working mom, headaches were not unusual for Tavares. In fact, there were "a million reasons" why she might have one. Yet as she went about her morning, something felt off. She noticed swelling in her body, an alarming symptom that stood out from the usual discomforts of pregnancy.
"I started to put the pieces together that this wasn’t something that was normal for me, and it wasn’t something that was necessarily normal for pregnancy," she recalled.
Despite growing concerns, Tavares tried to remain calm. But as the headache worsened, she suspected it could be preeclampsia, a dangerous pregnancy complication that leads to swelling and high blood pressure. Quickly, she ordered a blood pressure cuff for same-day delivery, and when it arrived, the readings were shockingly high and kept rising.
“You go through this period of 'Is this really happening? Is this not happening?' And it was happening,” Tavares said.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Tavares and her husband headed to Morristown Medical Center — the very hospital where she worked — and her worst fears were confirmed. She had preeclampsia. For the next three days, doctors fought to stabilize her condition. Ultimately, the decision was made to deliver her baby nine weeks early due to the life-threatening risks posed by preeclampsia. While the delivery was smooth, the baby was immediately transferred to the NICU for observation. Yet Tavares' health issues didn’t end there.
The Dangers of Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia, a condition that often develops in the second or third trimester, is marked by high blood pressure and can result in serious complications such as organ damage, seizures, and even death. In some cases — like Tavares' — it progresses into a severe form, making it harder to control and more dangerous for both the mother and baby.
Typically, preeclampsia resolves after childbirth, but for some women, the symptoms continue to worsen in the postpartum period. Tavares was moved from the obstetric floor to the cardiac unit as her condition remained precarious. Dr. Michael Ahnert, a physician at Morristown Medical Center, emphasized that in rare cases like hers, preeclampsia can linger for months after delivery, requiring constant monitoring and treatment.
"I was hopeful that my situation would change after delivery, and it was hard when it didn’t," Tavares said. "Nothing was normal anymore."
Her diagnosis of preeclampsia with severe features meant she needed ongoing blood pressure medication and regular follow-ups. Tavares describes the experience as a “roller coaster,” with fluctuations in her blood pressure and emotions.
Long-Term Effects and Awareness
For centuries, preeclampsia was understood mainly as a temporary complication, but recent research shows that its effects can persist long after childbirth. One of the lesser-known conditions associated with preeclampsia is postpartum preeclampsia, which can occur up to six weeks after delivery, significantly raising the risk of cardiovascular problems later in life.
The American Heart Association recently warned that preeclampsia increases the likelihood of developing chronic hypertension, a leading risk factor for heart disease. Women who’ve had preeclampsia are up to 25 times more likely to develop high blood pressure in the future, and the risk remains elevated for years after childbirth. Even more concerning, preeclampsia is linked to premature atherosclerosis, which can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure decades down the line.
Both Dr. Ahnert and Dr. Anais Hausvater, co-director of NYU Langone's Cardio-Obstetrics program, are seeing an increasing number of preeclampsia cases in their practices. Rates of the condition have doubled since 2014, and though the causes remain unclear, factors like later pregnancies and underlying cardiovascular conditions are believed to contribute. Dr. Hausvater also pointed out that improvements in monitoring may contribute to the higher diagnosis rates, but there’s still much to learn about this growing health concern.
The Importance of Education and Advocacy
Now, seven months after giving birth to her son, Tavares continues to feel the effects of preeclampsia. Her blood pressure is generally stable but still fluctuates, and she is on ongoing medication with regular check-ups. While her family is thriving, she remains deeply affected by the traumatic experience.
Tavares hopes her story will raise awareness about the risks of preeclampsia, urging both expecting mothers and healthcare providers to be vigilant for warning signs.
“I was very fortunate that I had a little bit of knowledge to be able to help myself,” Tavares reflected. “There’s so much education that we need to do for the maternal population, for the provider population, just for everyone. I want other people to benefit from the trauma I had, so hopefully, they’re able to survive what they need to get through.”
Her advocacy highlights the importance of proactive monitoring and timely intervention in preventing life-threatening complications during pregnancy.