By Aaisha Shafique
Preeclampsia is a disorder that occurs only during pregnancy and the postpartum period which affects both the mother and unborn baby. It affects 5-8% of all pregnancies and is characterized by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine. Other symptoms include, swelling, severe headaches, sudden weight gain and changes in vision.
Preeclampsia Foundation Canada is made up of volunteers who wish to bring awareness and education to expectant mothers, as well as, the public on the signs and health issues preeclampsia can cause. They are affiliated with their American counterpart and sister-organization, Preeclampsia Foundation.
Since their establishment in 2015, the charity's main initiative to bring awareness to preeclampsia started in 2017 by hostingThe Promise Walk for Preeclampsia™ acrossseveral cities. These walks are a platform for education and the preeclampsia community to come together to share their experiences with preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy such as HELLP Syndrome or eclampsia. The Promise Walks typically take place during the months of May and June to coincide with Preeclampsia Awareness Month (May) and World Preeclampsia Day on May 22nd.
Preeclampsia Foundation Canada supports preeclampsia research through their Vision Grant program. To learn more about the research projects Preeclampsia Foundation Canada has supported, please visit: www.preeclampsiacanada.ca
Check out their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/PreeclampsiaFoundationCanada
Nurtured in the NICU stories are created by the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation to highlight the wonderful work of doctors, nurses, and parent volunteers in Canada’s NICUs. For more information or if you would like to share an initiative happening in your NICU, please send us an email at info@cpbf-fbpc.org.