After a week in hospital with dangerously high blood pressure, Sarah’s body finally went into seizure and she was rushed into an emergency C-section, with her baby not yet full term.
“If I had access to a test that could predict my risk for pre-eclampsia I could have prevented a life threatening situation for me and for my baby ” – Sarah, pre-eclampsia survivor.
Testing is available in early pregnancy to more accurately identify women at risk of developing pre-eclampsia (PE) so that it can be prevented, and to assist in the diagnosis of PE later in pregnancy. Cleared by the TGA over 12 years ago, this test is not widely available because it is not funded under the Medicare Benefits Schedule.
Up to 1 in 20 pregnant women are at risk of PE, with 1 in 100 of those women experiencing serious complications.
PE is the leading cause of death for pregnant women and their babies. PE also impacts foetal development, ongoing health of mother and baby, and increases the risk of pre-term birth.
A blood test for PE is considered standard of care in many countries, yet Australian women are missing out.
The personal costs of PE can be devastating, but it is also placing undue burden on our healthcare system.
Hear Sarah’s story as she struggled to advocate for the care she needed for herself and her baby