Recent research reveals that stress is not a cause of preeclampsia, and limited exercise during pregnancy does not raise the risk.
Long-held beliefs pointed to stress and lack of exercise as contributors to preeclampsia (also known as pregnancy poisoning). However, a comprehensive study by Karlijn Vollebregt, affiliated with the University of Amsterdam, has disproved this among pregnant women.
Preeclampsia can develop during pregnancy, posing serious risks to both mother and child. In the Netherlands, it was the leading cause of maternal death in 2020. Key symptoms include high blood pressure and protein in the urine.
Early in pregnancy, subtle differences emerge between women who develop preeclampsia later and those with uncomplicated pregnancies. Vollebregt's findings identify the primary causes as genetic predisposition, pre-existing high blood pressure, and maternal age. For instance, women who conceive later in life face a higher risk.
Karlijn Vollebregt defended her PhD thesis today at the University of Amsterdam.
Read also: The older the mother, the heavier the baby
