Researchers are developing a blood test that might identify a woman’s risk for preeclampsia early on during her pregnancy, according to an article featured in Businessweek. This is great news for moms who have a family history or a personal history with the disease and are especially concerned over whether they can expect to develop preeclampsia near the end of their pregnancy. The test uses metabolic profiling to identify certain biomarkers in the blood that give away a woman’s level of risk for developing preeclampsia later on. Researchers identified fourteen metabolic targets to watch for signs of preeclampsia risk. Researchers … Continue reading →

Researchers say that women who have experienced preeclampsia have an increased risk of thyroid problems later in life. In fact, the researchers suggested that pregnant women who develop preeclampsia should be monitored for decreased thyroid function as they get older. Pregnant women who have preeclampsia during their first and second pregnancies are at even greater risk. The medical explanation for this correlation is tied to increased levels of something called soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 in the body before delivery. Women with preeclampsia showed higher levels of this substance than other women and this substance has been tied to increased … Continue reading →

Pregnant? You may just want to have your thyroid hormone levels checked. If your thyroxine levels are even just a little bit off, you may be at an increased risk for delivery complications. Thyroxine is the main hormone secreted by the thyroid, which is responsible for metabolism, protein production and the body’s sensitivity to other hormones. Too little thyroxine may increase your risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and pre-eclampsia. (Interestingly enough, pre-eclampsia has recently been linked to increased risk for thyroid problems later in life.) Now researchers are saying that even moderately low to normal levels of the hormone may … Continue reading →